GENERAL37680

• Permit No: C1981047
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 12/9/2002
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for RN4
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Discharge of Water into an Underground Mine
There will not be any discharge of water into an underground mine (4.05.16).
J. Stream Buffer Zones
The Division proposes to approve surface or underground mining activities
within 100 feet of Hubbard Creek which is a perennial stream with a
biological community. This decision is based on a finding that the original
stream channel will be restored, water quality and quantity shall not be
adversely affected, and appropriate riparian vegetation will be reestablished.
The buffer zone variance is granted for Ditch A, Pond No. 5, the light-use
road, Pond No. 3, Pond No. 4, and portions of the reclaimed access road
(4.05.18(1)).
K. Probable Hydrologic Consequences
Under Rule 2.07.6(2)(c), the Division is required to make an assessment of
the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated coal mining in the general
azea on the hydrologic balance and to make a fmding (as discussed in Section
A of this document) that the operations proposed in the permit application
have been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance
outside of the proposed permit azea. This section of the fmdings document is
divided into the following subsections: Description of the Hydrologic
Environment; Probable Hydrologic Consequences of the Blue Ribbon Mine;
and Summary and Findings. A separate Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study
(CHIS) is available for review at the Division of Minerals and Geology. The
CHIS filed at the Division, assesses the projected cumulative hydrologic
impacts of all anticipated mining operations in the general azea of the Blue
Ribbon Mine on the North Fork of the Gunnison River Valley.
Description of the Hydrologic Environment
a. Regional Geology
The Blue Ribbon Mine lies on the southwestern mazgin of the
Piceance Basin, a part of the Colorado Plateau province. The
steep slopes of the stream valleys and the instability of the
rock strata in the North Fork of the Gunnison Drainage Basin
has contributed to numerous landslides, mud flows and rock
falls. These mass wasting features have been mapped by W.
R. Junge of the Colorado Geological Survey and published as
an open file report, entitled "Geological Hazards, North Fork
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