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-26- <br />IX. Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study and Probable Hydrologic Consequences - <br />Rules 2.05.6(3) and 2. 07.6(2)(c) <br />This Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study (CHIS) for the drainage basin of the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River has been prepared by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation <br />Division pursuant to Rule 2. 07.6(2)(c). The CHIS assesses the cumulative hydrologic <br />impacts of all anticipated coal mining operations upon the general area of the <br />North Fork of the Gunnison. Included in this assessment are existing mines and <br />proposed mines for which permit applications have been submitted. The operations <br />are listed below: (See Figures Ia and 1b for general area and mine locations; see <br />Table 1 for specific information on each operation.) <br />1. ARCO Coal - Mt. Gunnison No. 1 mine <br />2. Bear Coal Company, Inc. - Bear No. I, 2, and 3 mines <br />3. Colorado Westmoreland - Orchard Valley mine <br />4. U.S. Steel - Somerset mines <br />5. Western Associated Coal - Blue Ribbon mine <br />6. Western Slope Carbon - Hawks Nest mines <br />This study has been prepared using information and analysis contained in the Bear <br />Permit Application, and other permit applications for mining operations in the general <br />area, and other available information including site visitation by the Division Staff. <br />Description of Hydrologic Environment <br />The first part of this assessment describes the hydrology of the drainage laasin of <br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the mining activity occurring in the basin. <br />This includes; 1) a description of the regional geology; 2) a description of the <br />ground water regime; 3) a description of the surface water regime; 4) a discussion <br />of the natural water balance of the basin; and 5) a discussion of the mass water <br />balance of the basin which includes activities such as domestic, agricultural and <br />industrual water use. <br />The life-of-mine areas of these mines are plotted on Figure Ib, In addition, the coal <br />seams to be mined, the area of surface disturbance, the area to be undermined during <br />the first five-year permit period and the area to be undermined during the life-of- <br />mine are tabulated in Table 1. <br />