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-3- 2. The surface water monitoriny sites on Lick-Creek, South Prong, and Horse Creak will be used in future permits to ;neasure the effects of mine depletions on the surface water regime. Ho~.vever, since the sites are located upstraain near the center of the lease area tney will not be sensitive to any depletions incurred downstream by the mine. Tie current sites would therefore, may bias the results. In order to fully assess the total amount of depletions on the streams, the sites should be relocated downstream below the affected areas. The operator is encouraged to consider this and respond if appropriate. 3. Surface .voter monitoriny in Dry Fork occurs at Lower Dry Fork (below the lease area) and in two places on Upper Dry Fork. Tnis monitoring network is geared to identify surface water depletions through well depth measurements, spring flows, and mine inflows all of which might be considered from one viewpoint to be secondary measurements. A direct measurement of stream flow reduction would be difficult using the Lower Dry Fork gage since it is affected by controlled releases from Minnesota Reservoir. Amore appropriate site to measure surface water depletions inignt be to locate a gage at the inlet to Minnesota Reservoir. Tnis site would not be influenced by diversions for water user. The operator is encouraged to consider this and respond if appropriate. 4. A review of the current Mt. Gunnison ~4ine plan indicates that the subsidence test panel will be the only panel to be retreat mined during the first five year per,nit term. This panel is not. proposed to be mined until the fifth year of the permit term. The original permit approval ooserved that the Division considered it extremely important that subsidence-related geotecnnical and hydrogeological data be collected, in order to facilitate the consideration of future mining permit application plans at the ~•1t. Gunnison No. 1 Mine. Mining of the test panel during the final year of the initial permit term will probaoly not provide sufficient data regarding the mechanical and Hydrological impacts of subsidence to allow the Division to complete formulation of the necessary findings regarding any areas of future proposed mine plans which are hydrologically adjacent to the Dry Fork drainage. Mt. Gunnison should consider relocating the test panel so as to obtain data earlier in the permit term. Such a relocation would require revisiny the :nine plan and prooably the permit boundary through an appropriate revision.