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Due to the hydrologic characteristics of the Hay Gulch alluvial aquifer and to <br />the manner in which the mining operations are or are proposed to be conducted, <br />it has been determined that no significant cumulative hydrologic impacts to <br />the alluvial aquifer will occur. <br />Pursuant to C.R.S 34-33-114(2)(C), the Division has assessed the probable <br />cumulative hydrologic impacts to the ground water and surface water within <br />basins defined in this document from permitted and anticipated mining <br />operations. The Division finds that the La Plata Coal Corporation operation <br />has been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside <br />the permit area. <br />X. Climatolo ical Information and Air Resources - Rules 2.04.8, <br />2.05.4 2 h 2.05.6 1 and 4.19 <br />Information pertaining to climate and air resource protection is presented in <br />Sections 2.04 (pages 2.04-21 to -25) and 2.05 (page 2.05-47) and Exhibit 3 of <br />the permit application. <br />A reporting station located in Durango, Colorado, which is about twelve miles <br />east of the proposed permit area, was used to identify climatological <br />information. The elevation of this weather station is at 6,600 feet whereas <br />the proposed disturbed area of the La Plata No. 1 Mine varies from 7,450 to <br />7,650 feet. Also, the Durango area is located in a much wider valley than the <br />confined area of Hay Gulch where the mine is located. Even with these <br />differences, the Division believes the information collected in Durango is <br />representative of the La Plata No. 1 Mine area. <br />Information collected from 1971-1986 pertaining to precipitation is presented <br />in Table 3 (page 2.04-24) and pertaining to temperature is presented in Table <br />4 (page 2.04-25). Data could not be presented for November and December of <br />1986 due to unavailability, therefore, averages were calculated from <br />1971-1985. The average annual precipitation calculated was 19.4 inches with <br />an average annual temperature of 46.9oF. <br />For air resources protection, La Plata Coal Corporation has obtained Air <br />Pollution Emission Permit No. 86LP609 from the Colorado Department of Health. <br />The applicant is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />XI. Soil Resources - Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(5), 2.05.4(2)(d) and 4.06 <br />Information pertaining to soil resources is presented in Section 2.04 <br />(pages 2,04-26 to -27) and Exhibit 5 of the permit application. <br />The disturbed area encompassing about seven acres includes all of the surface <br />facilities incidental to the underground mining operations. This area has <br />been disturbed by previous mining operations (i. e.: mining activities date <br />back to 1905) with no topsoil material salvaged or stockpiled: Because of the <br />disturbed nature of this site, it was not possible to obtain baseline soil <br />information. Rather, information was obtained from adjacent undisturbed areas <br />as a means of describing the general area. <br />-21- <br />