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-zl- <br />VIII. PROBABLE HYDROLOGIC CONSEQUENCES OF MINING AND CUMULATIVE <br />This Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study (CRIB) for the drainage basin of <br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River has been prepared by the Colorado <br />Mined Land Reclamation Division (CMLRD) pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(c). <br />This CHIS assesses the probable cumulative hydrologic impacts of all <br />anticipated coal mining operations upon the general area of the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River Valley. Included in this assessment are all <br />existing coal mines and those proposed coal mines for which permit <br />applications have been submitted to the Division. This study has been <br />prepared using information and analyses contained in the Orchard Valley <br />Mine permit application, information and analyses contained in other <br />permit applications for mines located in the general area and other <br />available information including site visitation by members of the <br />Division staff. <br />Coal mining operations in the study area include: <br />1. ARGO Coal - Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine, CMLRD File No. C-007-80 <br />2. Bear Coal Company, Inc. - Bear No. 1, 2, and 3 Mines, CMLRD File <br />No. C-033-81 <br />3. Colorado Westmoreland - Orchard Valley Mine, CMLRD File No. <br />C-038-81 <br />4. U.S. Steel - Somerset Mines, CMLRD File No. C-022-81 <br />5. Western Associated Coal - Blue Ribbon Mine, CMLRD File No. <br />C-047-81 <br />6. Western Slope Carbon - Hawk's Nest Mines, CMLRD File No. C-016-81 <br />All of these coal mines have life-of-mine areas within a 247 square mile <br />subwatershed of the 978 square mile North Fork of the Gunnison drainage <br />basin (Figure 1), and have been considered as the mines in the general <br />area for this study. <br />The Mid Continent Resources, Goal Basin Mines will extend into the upper <br />tributaries of Muddy Creek, a tributary to the North Fork of the Gunnison <br />(Figure 1). These mines were excluded from this CHIS for the followiny <br />reasons: <br />1) The Coal Basin Mine workings will be over 2,000 feet deep in this <br />area and subsidence effects will not impact surface and ground <br />waters tributary to the North Fork; <br />2) A substantial distance separates the Coal Basin Mines from the mines <br />in the Somerset Coal Field; <br />3) Geological characteristics of the rock strata differ considerably <br />between the two coal fields; and <br />