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SEA\'T BY~mss 5-18-99 9~58:1~1 : massey~ 3038328106:# 2/ 6 <br />May-1B-99 07:42A Hale~ska a~d'ASSOCiatas (3~ 794-3245 P.02 <br />DESCRIPTION OF W TER USE OPTION UNDER TR-26 <br />SAN LUIS PROJECT, ~OSTILLA COUNTY, COLORADO <br />DESCRiPI'ION OF ISSUES <br />Battle Mountain Resources, Inc. (BMRI) has operrted under a Colorado Mine Land Reclamation <br />Hoard Permit (M-88-112) throughout thg mining and closure phases at the San Luis Project. As <br />part of the closure plea for the Rest Pit, ~MRI has bcen required to submit Ttchnical Revision-2ti <br />(TR-26) to the Colorado Division of Miaerals and Geology (DM(3) to address remaining closure <br />issues at the West Pit (West Pit Closurd~ Plan). <br />In TR-26, BMRI originally proposed both passive and active treatment systems to address water <br />quality issues associated with the West Pit closure. thte option was the forced evaporation of <br />water during tht suttultertittu months. However, because this action could result in the <br />consumptive use of approximately 30,1X10,tlOD gallooa of water per summer (92 sett-feet (ac-ft)), <br />BMRI has been pursuing other potet-tial'uptions that would put the water [o beneficial use, rather <br />than simply evaporating the water. The following section describes an alternative approach to the <br />West Pit Closure Plan in which the West Pit water would be put ro beneficial ore while also <br />protecting other vested water rights in loth quantity and quality. <br />DESCRIPTION OF WEST PIT WATER USE PLAN <br />During mining operationv BMRI has obtained its water supply from wells located on the Rocky <br />Mountain Farms, located approximately 8 miles north of ttte mine site. During that time, BMRI <br />delivtrrd water from the farm for direct use at the none, and has used the wells and pipeline to <br />provide the required augmentation water to Rito Seco, consistent with BMRI's adjudicated <br />augmentation plan decree In Case No. 89CW 32. It is proposed under the west Pit Response Plan <br />that HMRI would continue to protect affected water users by delivering water to the Rito Seco <br />under a cevised augmentation schedule to be developed in cooperation with the Division <br />Engineer's office. <br />Au:urtling w the data derived from extensive muniwring in atxl aruuad the Wcst Pi[, it iz <br />anticipated that this West Pit Response !'Ian would entail initial pumping in the West Yit in the <br />range of 200 gallotu per minute (gem) to lower the water table approximately 15 feat, which will <br />-1- <br />