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<br />Anthony Waldron Page 2 September 15, 1994 <br />(a) The Someset Mine will monitor springs and seeps 1 through 6 <br />monthly from March through October. Springs and seeps 7 <br />through 11 will be monitored monthly. This will begin when <br />practicable and will continue through the end of 1993. <br />(b) The springs and seeps will be monitored for flow, pH, <br />electrical conductivity and temperature. <br />(c) The data from this monitoring and an interpretation will be <br />submitted with the 1992 Annual Hydrological Report. <br />(d) Monitoring will recommence one year prior to retreat mining <br />in the area of the springs and seeps and continue for an <br />additional two years after the area is retreat mined. An <br />interpretation of the results and correlation with past <br />monitoring results will be submitted with the next annual <br />report. <br />(e) For this permit revision, the application should identify <br />the source and use of these springs." <br />SMC responded by including new pages 2.04-29xviii & xvix which <br />incorporated 1992 spring monitoring, revised pages 2.04-38i & ii <br />to add a discussion of Springs 1-11 and described the source and <br />use of the springs, revised page 2.05-46iii to include hydrologic <br />monitoring of the springs, revised page 2.05-46iv to include <br />interpretation and correlation of the spring monitoring data in <br />the 1992 and 1993 annual hydrologic reports, and revised page <br />2.05-47 to commit to the required monitoring plan. The Division <br />then made an additional requirement for SMC to commit to <br />augmenting the flows in the North Fork should any reduction <br />inflows from the undermined ephemeral drainages or springs be <br />attributed to effects of mining. SMC responded with, "If any <br />reduction in flow from the undermined ephemeral drainages or <br />springs is attributed to the effects of mining, and it is <br />determined those reductions in flows are depleting the flow in <br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River, then the operator will <br />augment the flow in the river as required by applicable State <br />laws." <br />The Division included a discussion of the springs in the Proposed <br />Decision and Findings of Compliance for Permit Revision No. 2., <br />and in the Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study - North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River (Revised 9/25/92). The CHIS states in parts: <br />"The underground mining operations, through subsidence effects, <br />may reduce stream flows or flows from springs and seeps." <br />"Streamflow reduction could develop from three seperate scenarios <br />- increased infiltration of runoff through subsidence fractures, <br />direct stream recharge to the mine in zones of stream <br />undermining, and loss of spring flow." "Despite the presence of <br />subsidence features at several of the mine sites, this impact has <br />not been identified by any of the monitoring programs." <br />