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Subsidence effects have the potential to impact any or all springs, seeps, and ponds <br />within the affected permit area. In order to protect water resources but still allow <br />mining, the operator has developed a subsidence damage preventative mine plan, <br />subsidence repair procedures, a water replacement plan, and an intensive <br />monitoring system. <br />The mine plan has been designed to preclude mining in certain critical areas where <br />water rights exist. For example, the north extreme of East Roatcap Creek will not <br />be undermined to prevent impacts to certain water rights. In aeeas where the <br />overburden depth is -ess than 800 feet, Bowie Resources Limited will conduct <br />limited coal extraction under streams to minimize the potential for any subsidence. <br />Should damage to any pipeline, spring, pond, etc., be identified as the result of <br />mining, Bowie Resources Limited will repair the damage in accordance with their <br />"Subsidence Repair Handbook." This handbook, incorporated into Volume 3 of <br />the application, contains detailed procedures that will be implemented to repair <br />water resources and structures should they be impacted. <br />A general water replacement plan has been prepazed by the operator to augment <br />water to water users while any mine related damage is being repaired. The <br />applicant has demonstrated water is available and can be transported to affected <br />water users if damage occurs. Their water rights consist of both springs and ditch <br />water that could supply a vaziety of users. Impacts on water users will not be all at <br />once. Rather, impact will progress slowly over areas as coal is mined. The <br />applicant also agreed to reduce leaks and seeps on some ditches and has changed <br />the point of diversion of the Overland Ditch from East Roatcap Creek to West <br />Roatcap Creek.to further protect the rights of present water users. To protect stock <br />and wildlife, the applicant has committed to maintaining a designated number of <br />stockponds on the permit area which will be protected from damage. <br />When Bowie Resources Limited mines under Steven's and East Roatcap Creek, <br />water maybe encountered even if there is no subsidence. Faults and fractures may <br />be encountered underground that are in communication with the stream and its <br />associated alluvial/colluvial deposits. Dewatering of these faults and fractures <br />could diminish streamflow and the alluvium/colluvium when water is present. The <br />limited depletions are not predicted to be significant enough to cause a major <br />change in stream chazacteristics or impact the hydrologic balance. The only <br />concern with diminishment of Steven's Gulch or East Roatcap Creek stream flow <br />would be to water users within those drainages. The operator has responded to this <br />concern in their water replacement plan. The Division's findings on this issue aze <br />included in the Water Rights and Replacement discussion in Section VII of this <br />document. <br />Based on data from other mines in the valley, the Division would anticipate <br />stream-related inflows to be only a few hundred gallons per minute at worst case <br />during certain times of [he year when the streams are flowing. Following a detailed <br />32 <br />