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_P2_ <br />Coal processing wastes from the wash plant/breaker facility will be trucked to <br />two temporary storage piles above the proposed pit highwall (see Map 5-1 for <br />locations). Surface runoff from the piles will be diverted into the pit and <br />eventually discharged after meeting NPDES discharge requirements. The waste <br />piles will cover about 5 acres, and hold wastes until the pit has been <br />backfilled above the level of the reconstructed stream channel. The wastes <br />will be pushed in the pit by dozers once the pit has reached an elevation of <br />6,890 feet. The wastes will be placed on a 2 foot compacted layer of clayey <br />overburden, and then compacted. This will minimize the water quality impact <br />of the wastes by: 1) limiting the exposure of the wastes to ground and <br />surface waters, 2) preventing the washing of fines into the ground water <br />system, and 3> limiting infiltration and deep percolation within the wastes. <br />The coal processing wastes will be covered with a minimum of 4 feet of <br />non-toxic overburden and soils. This depth of cover should prevent toxicity <br />to plants, ensure successful revegetation, and prevent exposure of wastes to <br />surface waters. <br />Water Rights and Replacement <br />Pueblo Coal Company has provided water rights information within the permit <br />application on pages 30 and 85; Table 4-4; Map 4-3; and Appendix 3-4. <br />Pueblo Coal Company plans to use water obtained from three sources; purchased <br />water from the City of Durango, ground water from a well, and pit iunflow <br />water. The water will be used for dust suppression, operation of the wash <br />plant, domestic uses, and irrigation of reclaimed areas. <br />Pueblo Coal Company has applied for, and received, a well permit (Permit No. <br />25629-F) from the Colorado Division of Water Resources. However, the company <br />has not drilled or put the ground water to beneficial use prior to the <br />expiration date of March 17, 1983. Pueblo Coal, Inc. is hereby advised that <br />surface coal mining operations must be conducted in accordance with applicable <br />State water law. <br />With the refiling for a well permit and with the conducting of the operations <br />in accordance with applicable State water law, the Division finds this section <br />of the application in conformance with the requirements of the permanent <br />program regulations. <br />Finding <br />With acceptance of the above stipulations, the Division finds that the Carbon <br />Junction Coal mining operation has been designed to minimize the impacts of <br />mining on the hydrologic balance, and has been designed to prevent material <br />damage to the quality and quantity of surface and ground waters off-site. <br />IX. Climatological Information and Air Resources - Rules 2.04.8, <br />2.05.4(h), 2.05.6(1) and 4.17 <br />Baseline information presented in Section 2.04.8 and Appendix 4-4 of the <br />permit application were reviewed for compliance by the Division. The <br />applicant has applied for an air emissions permit. The applicant has supplied <br />all information required by the Regulations. <br />