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-37- Energy mines have been reclaimed, while the Eckman Park Mine will remain active for approximately five more years. The Wadge seam of the Middle Coal Group have been mined at the Energy No. 1, No. 3 and Eckman Park Mines. The Energy No. 2 Mine was in the Fish Creek seam of the Upper Coal Group. The Energy No. 1, No. 3 and Eckman Park Mines will impact the quality of ground water in the aquifers of the Middle Coal Group. Spoils waters from the spoils aquifers will eventually recharge the Middle Coal Group aquifers and migrate down the dip of these strata. The Energy No. 2 Mine may impact the quality of water in the underlying Twentymile sandstone aquifer. The Energy No. 1 and Eckman Park Mines may impact the alluvial water quality in the Foidel Creek alluvium. This impact will only occur if the water levels in the spoils aquifer intercept the Foidel Creek alluvium. Similarly, the Energy No. 2 Mine spoil waters nay impact the Fish Creek alluvium, and the Energy No. 3 Mine spoil waters may impact Fish, Middle, and Trout Creeks. The piezometric surface in the Wadge coal-overburden aquifer will be lowered by the continued mining in the Eckman Park Mine. The piezometric surface will rebound once a spoils aquifer is established. Middle Creek Mine The Energy Mine No. 3/Middle Creek Mine permit application is presentiy under review by the Division for compliance with the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. The mines-are permitted to operate under Permit No. 76-16. Limited underground mining has occurred at the Middle Creek Mine, but it is not currently operating. This mine has a face-up area in the highwall of the Energy No. 3 Mine and is in the Wadge coal seam. The total area of existing underground mine workings amounts to 2.7 acres (roof area) of entries and mains. The expected life-of mine area for this mine is 274 acres, of which 150 acres will be roof area.The mine is adjacent to Middle Creek, a perennial stream, and its extensive alluvial body. The mine is located in an area of highly fractured rock strata adjacent to a major fault. The underground mine is not currently operating, and only reclamation work is occurring on the surface. Most of the life-of-mine area is within the lower Middle Creek drainage, while a small portion of the northern extent of mining will be in the Fish Creek drainage. During mining, this underground mine experienced inflow rates of 80 gallons per minute (gpm) and today, after the closure of the mine, discharge flows are 45 gpm. An inflow rate per unit area of exposed roof was calculated for the mining (29.6 gpm/acre) and post-mining (16.7 gpm/acre) conditions. These numbers were then multiplied by the projected life-of-mine area (150 acres) to calculate the total maximum anticipated mine inflow rate during mining (4444 gpm) and discharge rate after closure of the mine (2500 gpm). This represents a preliminary estimate that will be refined during the review process.