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The primary land use in the valley is irrigated agriculture, underground coal mining, and wildlife <br />habitat. Orchards and pasture land aze irrigated via the Fire Mountain Canal, which diverts water <br />from the North Fork of the Gunnison, and the Deer Trail Ditch, which diverts water from Hubbard <br />Creek. The pre-disturbance land use at the loadout was for irrigated orchazds. Irrigation water at <br />Terror Creek is supplied by the Deer Trail Ditch, which flows by culvert over the Fue Mountain <br />Canal neaz the northern permit boundary. <br />Adjacent to the loadout site, across Old Highway 133, is the site of the Bowie No. 2 Mine. This new <br />underground coal mine received its permit on Apri14,1997. Numerous old underground mines exist <br />north and east of the loadout. Currently, several pemutted underground coalmines aze located in the <br />North Fork Valley as well. A few of these active mines provide Terror Creek loadout with the run of <br />mine coal which is [hen prepared and sold by Terror Creek Company. <br />Cultural and Historic Resources-Rule 2.04.4 and 2.05.6(4) <br />Cultural and historic resources aze discussed in Section 2.04.4 in the permit application. <br />From review ofthe files in the Colorado Historical Society, the State Historical Preservation Officer <br />concluded that there aze no known resources within the permit azea of the Terror Creek Loadout. <br />The Town of Bowie, located in the project vicinity has been officially determined eligible for <br />inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, but will not be impacted by the loadout <br />operation. <br />Hydrologic Balance-Rules 2.04.5, 2.04.7. 2.053(41, 2.05.6(3), and 4.05 <br />Groundwater information can be found in the permit document in Section 2.04.7. <br />A description of groundwater occurrence and mining impacts on goundwater within the permit and <br />adjacent azeas can be found in the "Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining" section of this <br />document and the "Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study" document for this mine azea. <br />Groundwater occurrence in azeas adjacent to the permit azea are found in two different formations. <br />Alluvial material of the North Fork ofthe Gunnison River contains groundwater resulting primazily <br />from runoff and flow of the North Fork. Groundwater in very minor amounts may also be found in <br />the formations of the Mesaverde formation. Due to its higher elevation above the North Fork ofthe <br />Gunnison River and relative discontinuity of sandstones, shales, and siltstone material, little <br />groundwater is evident. A review of the Regional Geology/Hydrology Map (Map 2), shows no <br />evidence of springs within the azea of the loadout facility ofthis Mesaverde formation. As reviewed <br />in the geologic section, the location of the permit azea is on colluvial material significantly above the <br />elevation of the North Fork which directly affects the amount of groundwater found at the site. In <br />fact, no groundwater is thought to be present in the colluvial material above the elevation of the <br />North Fork. Only minor amounts of groundwater can be expected above the piezometric surface <br />which coincides with the North Fork. Operations at the Terror Creek facility will not intersect any <br />groundwater within the colluvial material due to limited excavation planned for the permit azea. <br />4 <br />