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-12- Occurrences of ground water have been noted in the Mesaverde Formation from information obtained from drilling, experience in the mine and from the presence of springs and seeps in the permit area and hydrologically adjacent area. This information indicates that the only potential regional aquifer in the area is the continuous Rollins sandstone, located stratigraphically approximately 200 feet below the "D" coal seam. Recharge to the Rollins sandstone occurs along outcrops and along subcrops beneath the alluvium of Terror Creek to the East and Stevens Gulch to the southwest. However, due to the steepness of the topography in the outcrop areas (i.e. sandstones are cliff formers) and the narrowness of the stream valleys, the Rollins sandstone receives little recharge. Some recharge to this continuous unit may comes directly from the percolation of snowmelt and precipitation downward through fractures. No aquifer test data and no piezometric surface data is available for the Rollin sandstone or the local discontinuous, lenticular sandstones above the "D" seam, so no specific estimates of any ground water flow rates and directions can be developed. The direction of migration of water would probably be northerly, down the dip of the beds, although this has not been confirmed by drilling. Drill holes which penetrated the Rollins sandstone were initially dry, but after letting the holes stand, some holes would accumulate water, sometimes as much as 20U-300 gallons. Ground water occurrences in the stratigraphic interval of the Mesaverde Formation above the "D" seam were specifically identified in only 5 of the 21 exploration drill holes. The data indicates that this interval of the Plesaverde Formation is not saturated, and that the ground water occurrences are related to: local perched water in th discontinuous, lenticular sandstones of the Mesaverde; areas of the colluvium which overlie much of the area except along the steeper side slopes (see Maps 41,42, and 44); or to faults and fractures. Discharge of ground water occurs through several seeps and springs in the permit area and hydrologically adjacent area (see Map 430.). Npproximately 20 springs occur on or near the permit area, however, none of these have been field checked during the wetter part of the year (May-June). Some of the springs in Section 19 appear to be associated with local faulting and fracturing, and others are probably associated with landslide complexes which are somewhat common throughout the North Fork Valley. Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plan The Orchard Valley mine is an existing underground mine which has been in operation since 1975. The mine is situated in the northeastern portion of Delta County, Colorado and is located approximately 5 miles North of Paonia, Colorado along the Stevens Gulch road. The western and southern extremities of the Orchard Valley mine permit area are bounded closely by Stevens Gulch, and the northern boundary is located approximately 1 mile South of the Morrell Cow Camp area. The eastern extremity of the permit area is located approximately 2000 feet West of Terror Creek. The coal loadout facilities are located approximately 1 mile northeast of Paonia along State Highway No. 133.