GENERAL30618

• Permit No: C1981033
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 9/18/1985
• Doc Name: PROPOSED DECISION AND FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE FOR PR
• From: Mines No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3
• Permit Index Doc Type: FINDINGS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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Stipulation No. 2
BEAR COAL COMPANY SHALL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE THREE NORTH FORK
ALLUVIAL WELLS AT THE BEAR N0. 3 MINE TO MONITOR THE EFFECTS OF MINING
ON THE ALLUVIAL GROUND WATER. THIS MONITORING SHALL INCLUDE MONTHLY
MONITORING OF GROUND WATER LEVELS, pH, TEMPERATURE AND
ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVITY. ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, GROUND WATER QUALITY
ANALYSES SHALL BE RUN ON SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM THESE ALLUVIAL WELLS.
All of the ground water concerns raised during the permit review have been
satisfactorily resolved and the proposed operation is in compliance with the
requirements of this section.
VII. Alluvial Vallev Floors -Rules 2.08.6 and 4.24
The alluvial valley floor findings made previously by the Division for the
WECC Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine are directly applicable to the Bear Mine. The
Bear No. 3 permit area and hydrologically adjacent areas were included in the
WECC AVF survey area.
The only area in the proposed permit or hydrologically adjacent area
identified as having alluvial deposits is the valley of the North Fork of the
Gunnison River. Several small bodies of alluvium lie along the course of the
river between the mouth of Sylvester Gulch, immediately upstream of the Bear
No. 1 portal facilities area and the town of Somerset, a distance of
approximately 1 1/2 miles. The old No. 1 portal and the area of Bear No. 3
facilities are both in alluvial deposits. However, neither of these areas
meet the size criteria of the OSM technical guideline (10 acres) and thus both
were found not to be alluvial valley floors.
Downstream from the town of Somerset, the valley opens up and the WECC study
identified a much larger body of alluvium. Areas within Sections 13 and 14
have been identified as currently supporting agriculture. On the basis of
information provided, the North Fork of the Gunnison and its associated
alluvium in Section 18, T13S, R90W (1.3 miles downstream of Mine No. 3) and
Sections 13 and 14, T13S, R91W (2.5 to 4 miles downstream) have been found to
meet the criteria of alluvial valley floors. The alluvial valley floor
probably continues downstream, but no determination has been made for the
North Fork Valley between Section 14, T13S, R91W and Section 29, T13S, R91W,
(2.5 to 6.5 miles downstream).
Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8, the Division is required to make specific written
findings on the effect of mining upon any AVF's within the permit and adjacent
area. The findings for the North Fork AVF are presented below. The AVF is
not within the mine permit area, and will not be physically disturbed by the
mining activities. No impacts to the AVF are anticipated.
1. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(i, the Division finds that the surface
coal mining operations would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude
farming on the alluvial valley floor (Rule 2.06.8(5)).