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The establishment of a monitoring point hydraulically downgradient from the <br />affected area <br />• The point is to be located where acceptable modeling or analyses indicate that <br />water quality monitoring may be reasonably expected to detect evidence of <br />violation of applicable groundwater standards by the operation <br />The Division also has the option to adopt a less stringent or "alternative compliance <br />point" or grant a variance under specific conditions. An "alternative compliance" point <br />can be granted if the proposed monitoring points are technologically economically <br />infeasible. Specifically, the following issues must be addressed in order for the Division <br />to consider the "alternative compliance point" concept: <br />• Potential for vertical migration of contamination <br />• Technological feasibility <br />• The number, quantity, nature and persistence in the environment of the <br />contamination present <br />• Economic reasonableness <br />• Upgradient levels of contamination <br />• Point of use treatment <br />• Geohydrological data and features, and <br />• The classified water use <br />Finally, an "alternative compliance point" can be granted where the applicant <br />demonstrates that a variance is the most appropriate approach for protecting the classified <br />use (41.7 F and section 25-8-204(4) C.R.S.). The following sections are presented to <br />provide documentation that granting a variance from monitoring groundwater greater <br />than 300 feet is warranted. <br />4.0 Justification for Point of Compliance Groundwater Monitoring Variance <br />4.1 Land Use <br />The Mine is located on the south-facing steep slope of the ridge bordering the North Fork <br />of the Gunnison River (the River). The entrance to the Mine is greater than 800 feet <br />above the saturated colluvial and alluvial materials associated with the River. The land <br />use of the USDA-FS managed lands over and adjacent to the mine area are described in <br />the GMUG Land and Resource Management Plan as: "Lands are managed for wildlife <br />habitat management for one or more Forest Service management indicator species. Semi- <br />primitive -non-motorized, semi-primitive motorized, and roaded natural recreation <br />opportunities aze provided. Livestock grazing and vegetation treatments aze allowable." <br />Current resource USFS management plans suggest there is little or no possibility that the <br />surface azea above the mine area will be developed by the public and because of drilling <br />