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<br /> <br />FINDINGS OF THE COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />FOR THE NEW ELK MINE <br />Explanation of Findings <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2) of the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation <br />Board for Coal Mining, and the approved state program, the Division of Minerals and <br />Geology or the Board must make specific written findings prior to issuance of a permit, <br />permit renewal or permit revision. These findings are based on information made available <br />to the Division that demonstrates that the applicant will be able to operate in compliance <br />with the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and the Regulations promulgated <br />pursuant to the Act. <br />The written findings in the following sections required by Rule 2.07.612) are listed in <br />accordance with that Rule. The findings and specific approvals required pursuant to Rule <br />2.07.6(2)(m) are listed in accordance with Rule 4 and are organized under subject or <br />discipline subtitles. <br />This written findings document is updated upon permit renewal, which occurs every five <br />years for most mines. This is the third renewal findings document (RN-03) for the New <br />Elk Mine, which has afive-year permit term. The following findings were reevaluated and <br />updated, if necessary, to reflect changes which have occurred during the past permit <br />term. Any stipulations from the original permit and findings document or subsequent <br />revisions that have been totally resolved to the satisfaction of the Division will be <br />removed from the permit upon issuance. <br />SECTION A <br />Findings Reouired by Rule 2.07.612) <br />1. The permit application is accurate and complete. All requirements of the Act and <br />these rules have been complied with (2.07.6(21(a)1• <br />2. Based on information contained in the permit application and other information <br />available to the Division, the Division finds that surface coal mining and reclamation <br />can be feasibly accomplished at the New Elk Mine (2.07.6(2)(b-1. <br />3. An assessment of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated coal mining in <br />the general area on the hydrologic balance, as described in 2.05.6(31, has been <br />made by the Division. This assessment entitled "Cumulative Hydrologic Impact <br />Assessment, Purgatoire River Basin" is available for inspection at the offices of the <br />Division. The Division finds that the operations proposed under the application <br />have been designed to prevent damage to the hydrologic balance outside the <br />proposed permit area (2.07.612)(c)1. <br />11 <br />