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-46- U.S. Steel has not submitted an estimate of the total water consumption in the Somerset Mine. The Division, therefore, has made the assumption that water consumption at the Somerset Mine is similar to the proposed maximum water consumption in the Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine. This assumption is based on the close proximity of the mines, the similarity in mining methods, coal handling, manpower requirements, and total annual coal production. This estimated water consumption would amount to 150 acre-feet per year, or 0.04% of the mean annual yield in the North Fork of the Gunnison. The total estimated water consumed by all of the mines presently operating in the North Fork Drainage Basin is 556 acre-feet per year. This is approximately 0.14% of the mean annual yield of the river. This indicates that the total coal mining activities within the North Fork of the Gunnison Drainage Basin has a very minor impact on the quantity of water available in the Basin. Cumulative Impacts of the Blue Ribbon and Somerset Mines Since all anticipated mining at the Blue Ribbon Mine is within the Hubbard Creek drainage basin, the impacts of all anticipated mining the Blue Ribbon Mine and Somerset downstream water users. most significant cumulative will be the combined impacts of Mine on Hubbard Creek and on the Data collected for the Somerset Mine estimates the annual yield in Hubbard Creek to be 29,700 acre-feet per year (8% of the mean annual yield of the North Fork of the Gunnison - 340,000 acre-feet per year). The total depletion of the flow in Hubbard Creek due to the combined impacts of the Somerset and Blue Ribbon mines may be 0.09 cfs (39 gpm or 56,160 gpd), 0.07 cfs (31 gpm or 44,640 gpd) coming from inflow measured in the Somerset Mine adjacent to or under Hubbard Creek, and 0.02 cfs (8 gpm or 11,520 gpd) coming from withdrawal of water by the Blue Ribbon Mine. This total depletion amounts to about 0.18% of the average streamflow (49.3 cfs) and 3.9% of the low flow (2.23 cfs) in Hubbard Creek as measured above the Blue Ribbon Mine. Cumulative Hydrologic Effects on Ground Water and Surface Water Resources - Finding An assessment of the probable hydrologic consequences of the proposed mining operation and an assessment of the probable cumulative impact of all anticipated mining in the general area on the hydrolo is balance has been made. Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(c~, the Division finds that the proposed Mt. Gunnison mining operation has been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the proposed permit area.