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-16- <br />During the review, it was found that there was no up-to-date complete <br />list of water rights owned by WECC. The water rights owned by WECC <br />were shown on three different tables, each of which having different <br />water rights shown. WECC responded satisfactorily by submitting <br />revised Table 2.8.5.2.a which list WECC's current water rights for both <br />the North Fork drainage and Minnesota Creek Drainage. <br />The following problems have not been satisfactorily resolved and will <br />require stipulations before a finding of compliance can be made. <br />Several problems were identified during the review concerning the <br />effect of WECC's mining operation on the hydrologic balance and <br />consequently water rights of the Minnesota Creek drainage basin. The <br />Division of Water Resources and several concerned citizens have raised <br />questions with regard to the adequacy of WECC's proposed plan for <br />augmentation, and have requested that WECC provide more detai]ed <br />information on the augmentation plan and that a determination be made <br />on which water rights will be affected by the operation, and to what <br />extent. In addition, it has been requested that WECC submit this plan <br />for augmentation with the proposed methods of mitigating losses as soon <br />as possible to the Water Court. <br />WECC has provided additional information concerning their augmentation <br />and mitigation plans in response to the informational requests, but at <br />present WECC has not adequately responded to all concerns. However, <br />WECC will not be mining under this drainage basin during the first <br />5-year permit term and the Minnesota Creek basin is hydrologically <br />separated from the extent of mining for the first 5 years by both a <br />surface and ground water divide. Consequently, no impacts are expected <br />within the initial 5-year permit term. Due to the seriousness of the <br />concern, however, the Division will require the following stipulations <br />to resolve the water issues before application is made for future <br />mining in the Minnesota Creek drainage basin. <br />Stipulation No. 3 <br />THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT TO THE DIVISION COPIES OF THE REPORTS, <br />EXHIBITS AND ALL SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE GUNNISON COUNTY <br />PLANNING COMMISSION, TITLED PROTECTION OF MINNESOTA CREEK WATER <br />SUPPLY. <br />Stipulation No. 4 <br />ALL DATA AND REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE ENGINEERS OFFICE AND DITCH <br />COMPANIES SHALL BE COPIED TO MLRD AS INCLUSIONS WITHIN THE QUARTERLY <br />REPORT REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 4.05.13(2) OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS. <br />Stipulations No. 5 <br />NEITHER WEST ELK COAL COMPANY, NOR ANY SUCCEEDING OPERATOR OF THE MT. <br />GUNNISON PROJECT'S COAL LEASES AND RESERVES WILL BE PERMITTED TO MINE <br />COAL WITHIN THE MINNESOTA CREEK BASIN, UNTIL MLRD HAS RECEIVED A COPY <br />OF AN ADJUDICATED PLAN OF AUGMENTATION. <br />