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RULE 2 PERMITS <br /> <br />Rule 2 Permits 2.04-37 Revision Date: 11/1/21 <br /> Revision No.: TR-150 <br />A study was conducted in 2021 to invesigate potential salinity impacts to irrigation waters from <br />mine discharges within Goodspring Creek. Irrigation water is obtained from Goodspring Creek <br />down gradient of Colowyo’s lowest discharge point on Goodspring Creek, and is used to irrigate <br />pastures below Colowyo’s mining operations. The study presented in Volume 2B Exhibit 7 Item <br />16 demonstrates that material damage to the pastures is not occurring from use of irrigation water <br />that is comingled with water discharged from Colowyo’s sediment ponds and native water flowing <br />in Good Spring Creek. <br /> <br />Effects of Mining on Water Rights <br /> <br />No significant effect will occur to surface or ground water rights in or adjacent to the Colowyo <br />Mine. Water consumed by Colowyo as a part of their water rights will be done in accordance with <br />the Colowyo Water Augmentation Plan approved by the Colorado State Engineer's Office and the <br />Division of Water Court. <br /> <br />Hydrologic Balance <br /> <br />Postmining Drainage <br /> <br />The initial excavation from the mined area was placed in the Streeter Fill, and subsequent <br />excavation is being placed in the area where mining has been completed. Similarly, as mining <br />proceeds into the upper reaches of Streeter Gulch, Gulch A, and Prospects Gulch, overburden <br />material will be backfilled in the mined area adjacent to Gulch A initially, followed by backfilling <br />and reclaiming the areas as mining activities are completed. Later, as the mining proceeds into the <br />area adjacent to a tributary of Taylor Creek, the areas will be progressively mined and backfilled <br />by successively mined overburden and interburden. The final configuration after all mining is <br />completed will be that the entire area will approximate the original topography with some minor <br />variations. These minor variations, which will have no significant affect on the overall hydrology, <br />are the Streeter Gulch mine fill, the West Pit mine fill, a small fill area in Section 16 and the final <br />area in section 16 and adjacent to Taylor Creek, which will be lower than the original ground. <br /> <br />Drainage of the mined and backfilled areas will be accomplished by diverting drainage through <br />berm ditches to the reconstructed channels. See Map 19 for channel locations. Berm ditches will <br />be used on all 3:1 reclaimed slopes, including the areas that are not a part of the Streeter Fill. The <br />ditches will be built by cut and fill construction, and will flow towards the permanent mine <br />drainages. The design for berm ditches will be 12 feet wide, slope towards the fill at a minimum <br />of 10%, have a longitudinal grade of 2%, and be located approximately every 100 feet of elevation. <br />These berm ditches are constructed to control the runoff from the reclaimed areas. The replaced <br />topsoil and regraded spoils (especially on 3:1 slopes) are quite susceptible to erosion until <br />vegetation is reestablished. Therefore, the berm ditches will provide protection against excessive <br />topsoil loss during the initial period of revegetation. It is expected that these berm ditches will <br />slowly silt up over a period of years. <br /> <br />All premining drainages with defined channels, except some minor drainages, will be restored to <br />approximately their historic drainage condition. Two tributaries to Streeter Gulch, Streeter Gulch <br />and the upper reaches of Gulch A will be reconstructed in approximately their historic location.