PERMFILE71404

• Permit No: C1992080A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 9/7/2006
• Section_Exhibit Name: Section 2.05 Operation and Reclamation Plan
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

• be established will ultimately provide greater cover and erosion control than the native
pre-mine vegetation.
The Carbon Junction Mine will minimally impact both the quality and quantity of ground
and surface waters. A discussion of the probable hydrologic consequences of mining is set
forth below as well as in the CDMG findings document for the initial approval of permit
C-92-080. The CDMG discussion of probable hydrologic consequences is incorporated
by reference into this document. This discussion includes a quantitative analysis of the
impacts of the proposed operation on the existing ground and surface water resources,
both quantity and quality impacts.
There are no regional aquifers that will be interrupted or impacted by the proposed mining
activity. Ground water in the area is found in discontinous lenses within lenticular
sandstones, fractures and in coal seams. Ground water analysis indicates that the water
found in the coal seams is of good quality and has no acid or toxic materials in the
analysis.
According to test data, little to no water will filtrate to the Pictured Cliff Sandstones, and
otherwise, the coals seams and perched water are expected to discharge to the reclaimed
pit. Overburden and refuse analysis indicate no acid or toxic materials are found in the
materials. Sulfur materials in the refuse will be placed no less than 20 feet above the pit
water level in reclamation although there is no available information indicating the two to
• three percent (2 to 3%) sulfur in the reject is acid forming.
Regarding the concern for the lower Fruitland Formation and the Pictured Cliffs
Sandstone being a regional aquifer, the Division is referred to: Availability and Chemical
Characteristics of Groundwater in Central La Plata County, Colorado by Robert E.
Brogden and T.F. Criles, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations 76-69,
prepazed in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of
Water Resources, Open File Report; Lakewood, Colorado; May, 1976. This report maps
the locations and summarizes water quality for 38 wells in the Durango area. None of the
wells investigated were completed in the referenced formations. Additionally the
formations are mentioned as potential aquifers, because no wells completed in either
formation could be located by the authors. Mr. Carl Hutchinson with the U.S.G.S. stated
that the purpose of this open file report was to supply the State Engineer with data on the
various formations acting as aquifers (personal communication February 6, 1983). The
results of this report tend to confirm the assertion that the Fruitland Formation and the
Pictured Cliffs Sandstone are not being utilized as aquifers in the Durango area (certainly
not within 2 miles of the mine site as State Engineer's well records indicate). Indeed, the
basic premise that the formations are aquifers in the Durango area becomes suspect,
The overall operation/reclamation plan has been established to protect the quality of
surface and ground water. Surface water outside of the disturbed area is diverted, as
• much as possible, into adjacent drainages which drain to the Animas River. The diversions
TR08, TRl l (v 1.0) 5.42 Revised 9197, Sl02