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hydrologically connected to the alluvial material. Therefore, groundwater quantity and quality in the alluvial material underlying the Bear No. 3 facilities are closely related to water quality and flow of the adjacent river. Disturbance of the alluvial material is not expected to significantly reduce the quantity of water present in the alluvial material underlying the facilities area. Some degradation of the alluvial aquifer below the Bear No. 3 facilities area is anticipated primarily due to the potential for contaminants to leach from the former coal pad stockpile area. The potential impacts are not considered significant, because adequate dilution of any effluent generated at the Bear No. 3 Mine will mitigate any effects of reduced water quality in the Bear No. 3 facilities area alluvium. In addition, the coal stockpile has been removed during recent reclamation activity at the Bear No. 3 Mine site. 3. Surface Water Effects Mining activities at the Bear No. 3 Mine are not expected to degrade the water quality of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The disturbed area for the Bear Mines is less than 30 acres in size, and is extremely small in comparison to the entire North Fork of the Gunnison River drainage basin. The small contribution of surface water runoff from [he Bear disturbed area will be diluted by flow in the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The Bear No. 3 sediment pond rarely discharges, and any effluent is required to meet NPDES discharge standards. The water quality of the North Fork of the Gurnison River is not expected to be impacted by water that infiltrates the alluvium of the Bear No. 3 facilities area. The small contribution to the flow of the river is insignificant. Any water which enters the alluvium will be diluted by groundwater flowing through the alluvium. The groundwater Flow through the alluvium will be further diluted by the greater flow in the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Flow in the river (at record low flow) is estimated to be nearly 130 times greater than the groundwater flow through the alluvium. As previously noted, a new spring has begun to flow from the vicinity of the Edwazds Mine Portal. This spring is discharging directly to the North Fork of the Gunnison River via a 4 inch flexible pipe. This discharge must meet all applicable water quality standards. A permit for this discharge is pending with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The potential for this new spring to impact water quality in the North Fork of the Gunnison River is currently being investigated by the Division. The overall impact to the North Fork of the Gunnison River, if any, will be determined pending the outcome of the Division's investigation regarding the source and quality of this spring flow. 22