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<br /> <br />Page 2 • <br />The remainder of the surface water and RVF sections of Rules 2 and 9, <br />that I reviewed, have included sufficient information to be designated <br />complete. Additional concerns will probably be raised during the adequacy <br />review. The applicant's discussion of probable hydrologic consequences <br />although complete should be expanded to be considered adequate. The <br />assessment needs to be more quantititative and several additional concerns <br />need to be analyzed. <br />1) Mine water will be discharged to the Foidel Creek stream/alluvial <br />aquifer system. The applicant should provide a worst case estimate <br />of the quantity and quality of this discharge, and predict the effects <br />upon surface flow regieme, surface water quality, alluvial water levels, <br />and alluvial water quality. Possible effects to downstream users <br />of surface flow or alluvial water should be considered, and mitigations <br />proposed if appropriate. <br />2) The underground mine would intercept ground water currently flowing <br />toward Twentymile Park, and discharging to the Fish Creek stream/ <br />' al2uvial aquifer system. The applicant should examine the possibility <br />of decreased flow in the Fish Creek system. This could be approached <br />by first assessing the relative significance of the flow passing <br />through the mine site to the Fish Creek system, and then predicting <br />the effects of mining. Possible effects to downstream users of the <br />surface flow and alluvial ground water should be considered, and <br />mitigation proposed if appropriate. <br />3) Reestablishment of normal ground water movement,post-mining, will <br />~~~ cause a plume of degraded ground water to migrate towards Twentymile <br />Park and discharge to the Fish Creek stream/alluvial aquifer system. <br />As a result, water quality in the Fish Creek system could be altered. <br />The permit application contains a qualitative assessment of this <br />possible effect, but it needs to be quantified to verify their <br />condlusions. If an effect be predicted in the quantitative assessment, <br />it should be evaluated relative to downstream water use, and mitigations <br />proposed if appropriate. <br />X <br />`?'~ 9) The applicant should predict flow from the Foidel Creek stream/ <br />,sls alluvial aquifer system. This flow results from the artificial <br />;~~ '~ gradients created by mining, and is not eliminated because of the <br />"v x~` ~`v non-tributary nature of the overburden aquifer. In the absence of <br />s." J ' natural fractures or subsidence caused fractures, this flow is <br />'~ ~F '~ governed by the verb cal permeability of the intervening strata. <br />ti~ <br />~.-' I have not reviewed the AVF information for adequacy. It's adequacy will <br />depend upon completing the AVF designation and further analysis of the <br />probable hydrologic consequences of mining. The Division should therefore <br />make its AVF designation prior to completing the preliminary adequacy review. <br />If you have any questions about this memo, we can discuss them during <br />todays meeting. <br />/ep <br />cc: Jim Pendleton <br />Ed Bischoff <br />