2024-08-28_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (2)

Home Browse Search

RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-20 Revision Date: 8/21/24 Revision No.: MR-259 During the widening of Haul Road A, two light use roads will be constructed at the toe of the Haul Road A to provide access to the Taylor Pump Holding Pond and a water rights diversion structure on Taylor Creek. Both structures will have proper BMPs installed and maintained until construction and stabilization of the light use roads is complete. It is not expected that the light use road will have any short or long term impacts to Taylor Creek. Two sediment ponds were constructed within the stream buffer zone on Taylor Creek. The West Pit Pond embankment lies within 100’ of Taylor Creek, and the West Taylor Pond was constructed at the base of the West Taylor Fill and makes up part of Taylor Creek. During construction and to date these structures have not created any adverse impacts to Taylor Creek, and both structures are also not anticipated to have any long term impacts to Taylor Creek. Much of the upper reaches of Taylor Creek above the West Taylor Pond will be directly impacted by the South Taylor Pit, and the permeant West Taylor Fill (see Map 23A). The West Taylor Pond will protect the lower reaches of Taylor Creek that will not be disturbed during mining and reclamation. It is expected that during mining the South Taylor Pit will intercept and hold surface water runoff thus providing less discharge through the West Taylor Pond. Once mining is complete the entire South Taylor Pit will be backfilled and the pre-mine profile and function of the upper reaches of Taylor Creek will be restored. One best management practice structure (sediment sump) lies within the stream buffer zone on Taylor Creek. This structure manages storm water runoff from the haul road and provides a benefit to Taylor Creek by capturing stormwater runoff from the haul road. This structure is not anticipated to have any impacts to Taylor Creek, and provides a benefit in protecting stormwater runoff to Taylor Creek. The Taylor Pump Holding Pond was constructed within 100’ of Taylor Creek. The Taylor Pump Holding Pond is utilized to manage water movement from Wilson Reservoir to the active operation; therefore, an underground water pipeline that transports water to and the from the Taylor Pump Holding Pond was also constructed at various locations within 100’ of Taylor Creek as shown on Map 10C. Neither of these structures has impacted Taylor Creek, and neither structure is expected to have any long term impacts to Taylor Creek. A water diversion structure is constructed in Taylor Creek that allows Colowyo to divert water from Taylor Creek to exercise a water right. This structure would be utilized even if mining was not occurring at Colowyo, as Colowyo is the private surface landowner utilizing a privately held water right structure. A light use road that was a premine “ranch” road follows along Taylor Creek. This road is utilized to access the West Pit, East Taylor, and West Taylor sediment ponds. The road has been improved upon from its premine condition to allow equipment access for dredging activities and continued environmental monitoring. The lower reach of the road where it begins off of the paved haul road up to the East Taylor Pond, snakes in and out of the 100’ stream buffer zone off of Taylor Creek. The upper reach from the East Taylor Pond to the West Taylor Pond is almost exclusively within the 100’ stream buffer zone due to steep topography. To date this road has