Laserfiche WebLink
A~ -'/ .t ~p ~~ <br />-12- 1J U ~G~~ <br />Stipulation No. 27 <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS EMPIRE ENERGY CORPORATION TO VISUALLY MONITOR THE <br />IRRIGATION DITCHES AND THE LAND SURFACE OVERLYING THE EAGLE N0. 9 MINE <br />IN THE YAMPA RIVER BIG BOTTOM ALLUVIAL VALLEY FLOOR. THE COMPANY SHALL <br />CONDUCT THIS MONITORING ON A WEEKLY BASIS DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN <br />SNOWMELT AND THE END OF THE GROWING SEASON OF EACH YEAR. THE MONITORING <br />REPORTS SHALL BE KEPT ON FILE A7 THE MINE OFFICE. IF SUBSIDENCE DAMAGE <br />IS OBSERVED, THE COMPANY SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE DIVISION AND SHALL <br />INSTITUTE THEIR MITIGATIVE PLAN PROPOSED IN SECTION 4.6.4, PAGE IV-194a <br />Of THE PERMIT APPLICATION. <br />With the acceptance of the two subsidence monitoring stipulations in this <br />section, and with the limitation of all mining under the Yampa River and the <br />Big Bottom alluvial valley floor to partial (maximum 5096) extraction, the <br />Division finds that the applicant has proposed an acceptable plan for the <br />restoration of the essential hydrologic functions of the Yampa River/Big <br />Bottom alluvial valley floor. <br />Yampa River/Round Bottom Alluvial Valley Floor <br />The approximate extent of the Yampa River alluvium of the Round Bottom area is <br />shown on Maps III-1 and IV-8 of the permit application. The essential <br />hydrologic function of the Round Bottom alluvial valley floor is its capacity <br />for supporting flood irrigation. Crop production may be augmented by <br />subirrigation, however, subirrigation is considered to be minor. The Round ` <br />Bottom alluvial valley floor primarily supports flood irrigated hay fields and <br />pasturelands. <br />The Eagle No. 9 Mine will not impact the essential hydrologic functions of the <br />Round Bottom alluvial valley floor. The impacts of the Eagle No. 9 Mine on <br />the quantity and quality of water in the Yampa River will neither reduce the <br />quantity of water supplied to the alluvial valley floor nor degrade the water <br />quality to a point which would effect productivity on the alluvial valley <br />floor. The Eagle No. 9 Mine will not undermine ground water aquifers within <br />the ground water basin tributary to the Round Bottom alluvial valley floor, <br />the Round Bottom Synclinal Basin. The Eagle No. 9 Mine, therefore, wil] not <br />impact subirrigation within the Round Bottom alluvial valley floor. <br />The Eagle No. 5 Mine wilt not undermine the Round Bottom alluvial valley <br />floor. TFte workings of this mine in the 2W area (approximately 90 acres) will <br />however, undermine areas containing surface and ground waters tributary to the <br />Round Bottom alluvial valley floor. The 2 West workings will undermine small <br />ephemeral streams directly tributary to the Yampa River/ Round Bottom alluvial <br />valley floor. The 2 West workings wil] also undermine (7wentymile and Middle <br />sandstone) aquifers along the upper edge of the Round Bottom Synclinal Basin <br />(a regional ground water basin) and along the axis of the Williams Fork <br />Anticline (the anticline which separates the Round and Big Bottom Synclinal <br />Basins). <br />