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Surface water information can be found in Section 2.04.7 of the permit document. All drainage <br />basins and associated drainages within the permit azea and adjacent areas aze shown on the <br />Geology/Hydrology Map (Map 2). <br />A description of surface water occurrence and mining impacts on surface water 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 />The permit azea is drained primazily by the North Fork of the Gunnison River and two ephemeral <br />tributazies to the North Fork. There are no perennial or intermittent streams on the permit area or <br />adjacent to the permit azea. The Fire Mountain Canal and the Deer Trail Ditch intersect all overland <br />flow upstream from the permit azea. Production of agricultural products at the site is possible only <br />by irrigation. <br />Geoloev-Rules 2.04.5 and 2.04.6 <br />For a description of the geology, refer to Section 2.04.6 in the permit document. Map 2 details the <br />Geology/Hydrologytyithin the permit and adjacent azeas. <br />The rocks exposed in the vicinity of the permit azea aze the sandstones and shales of the Upper <br />Cretaceous Mesaverde formation. The structure of the sedimentary rocks in the azea dips gently to <br />the east. Localized faults and rolls occur as a result of tectonic activity. Due north of the permit <br />azea, the Mesaverde formation contains several sequences of coal bearing rocks. The rocks present <br />in the azea of the Terror Creek site are of Mancos shale formation. Within the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River Valley, Quaternary Age alluvial deposits aze found. A colluvial deposit in excess of <br />50 feet thick overlies the Mancos within the permit azea and consists ofan unconsolidated mixture of <br />lazge, angulaz shaped boulders, and rocks and cobbles ofvarious sizes. The unconsolidated material <br />stratigraphically overlies the Mancos shale in the permit azea, and since the eazly 1900s has been <br />graded to its present surface configuration to allow for irrigated agriculture. The unconsolidated and <br />poorly sorted nature of the colluvial material indicates that it was placed by gravitational mass <br />wasting from the adjacent steep slopes. Some transport by overland flow of surface waters is also <br />evident. The unconsolidated nature of the material lends itself to deep weathered zones and <br />infiltration of surface water. <br />Climatological Information-Rule 2.04.8 <br />Information on the climate in the azea ofthe Terror Creek Loadout is detailed in Section 2.04.8 in the <br />permit document. In addition, Exhibit 6 provides data from the weather station in Paonia, Colorado, <br />on average precipitation, temperature, and wind. The wind information was developed for the West <br />Elk Mine site. <br />The climate of the region is typical of the Rocky Mountain area. The valley issemi-and with annual <br />precipitation averaging about 15 inches per yeaz. The May-September precipitation is 5 inches for <br />the lowlands and 13 inches for the mountain peaks. Temperature extremes at Paonia have ranged <br />