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a <br />The following finding is required in order to allow Powderhorn Coal Company to <br />conduct surface coal mining operations within 100 feet of the Colorado River: <br />1. Pursuant to Rule 4.05.18 the Division finds that the original stream <br />channel will be restored. There will be no disturbance of the stream <br />channel by the surface coal mining operations. <br />2. During and after mining, the water quantity and quality from the <br />stream section within 100 feet of the surface coal mining operations <br />will not be adversely affected. All runoff from the disturbed area <br />will be treated in a sediment control facility then released. <br />Following completion of mining, the disturbed areas will be reclaimed <br />and water quality and quantity should return to natural conditions. <br />3. The reclamation plan calls for re-establishment of riparian <br />vegetation where disturbed. The seed mix for this area will be <br />determined following the collection of vegetation data (see Section <br />XI). <br />VI. Ground Water Hydrology (2.04.5, 2.04.7, 2.05.6(3), 4.05 <br />Information on ground water hydrology, <br />compliance, can be found in Sections 2 <br />and V of the permit application. <br />which was reviewed by the Division for <br />04.5, 2.04.7 and 2.05.6 of Volumes I <br />The water table in the permit area and adjacent area is directly correlatable <br />to the elevation of the Colorado River. Rock formations and alluvium below <br />the level of the river are recharged by the Colorado River and have <br />piezometric levels equal to that of the river at the recharge zone. <br />Three stratigraphic units can be defined as aquifers and each transmits water <br />to, or is recharged by, the river. The first unit is the strata overlying the <br />coal seam. This unit consists of interbedded sandstones and shales of <br />discontinuous lateral extent. Consequently, the stratigraphy indicates that <br />the entire sequence of strata overlying the coal zone in the permit area <br />behaves as a single hydraulic unit which contains only localized perched <br />aquifers in areas where it is recharged by the river. Ground water moves <br />Slowly through and between interconnected sandstone and shale lenses and beds. <br />The second aquifer is the Cameo coal seam. The coal seam receives recharge <br />water from the river where the seam dips below the river at an elevation of <br />4,750 feet, as evidenced from the subsurface structural contour map in Exhibit <br />15. <br />The Rollins Sandstone formation is the thickest and most continuous sandstone <br />in the project area. The Rollins Sandstone is the third aquifer and <br />constitutes the best potential aquifer in the region. This unit is typically <br />114 feet thick in the permit area. As can be seen in Exhibit 13 of the <br />application, the Rollins Sandstone underlies the entire permit area, except <br />within Debeque Canyon, where it has been eroded and presently outcrops. <br />Recharge to the Rollins Sandstone occurs primarily along the subcrop of the <br />sandstone below the alluvium of the Colorado River. <br />-14- <br />