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as the wells are drilled. Pumping records for these wells will be kept and provided annually to the Division as were the records of pumpage from the pits in the past. The wells will be appropriately permitted by the State Engineer's office. The volume of water produced by these wells should approximate that recovered from the pits in the past. The operation is in. compliance with the requirements of this section. IX. Cumulative Hydrologic Rules 2.05.6(3) and 2 ~ and Probable Hydrologic Consequences - Rule 2.07.6(2)(c) requires the Division to make an assessment of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated coal mining in the general area on the hydrologic balance and to make a finding that the operations proposed in the permit application have been designed to prevent damage to the hydrologic balance outside the proposed permit area. This section is divided into the following sub-sections; A) Introduction and Background of the General Area; B) Definition of anticipated Mining in the General Area; C) Description of the Existing Environment; D) Probable Hydrologic Consequences; E) Hydrologic Monitoring; F) Cumulative Hydrologic Impacts Study; and G) Summary and Findings. This Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study (CHIS) assesses the projected cumulative hydrologic impacts of all anticipated coal mining operations in the general area of the Trapper Mine. Anticipated mining is defined as the proposed life of mine areas for the existing mines, areas with leased federal coal for which a mine plan is available, and those mines for which complete permit applications have been submitted to the Division. Introduction and Background for the General Area The Trapper Mine falls within the general area examined in the Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study prepared for Foidel Creek Mine in 1987. (See Figure 1). This CHIS considered the surface water impacts of coal mining on the Yampa River above the U.S. Geological Survey gaging station at Maybell, Colorado. The 1987 study included all coal mining anticipated at that time (Table 1). The projected hydrologic effects of the Trapper Mine has been revised to reflect the mine plan as described in the current application. The probable hydrologic consequences of the individual mines in the general area are summarized in the 1987 study. The probable hydrologic consequences of the Trapper Mine are discussed in sub-section D of this section of this findings document. B. Definition of Anticipated Mining in the General Area The surface water and ground water general areas for this CHIS do not coincide (Figures 1 and 2). The surface water general area includes all of the Yampa River watershed above the U. S. G.S. gaging station at Maybell. This incorporates the general areas for the previous Yampa River Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Studies. The ground water general area is smaller because of structural limitations discussed below. -21-