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14- <br />realized due to subsidence above the workings. Tfie a licant ha <br />committed to annual monitoring of these unadiudic'atEd Sp.rino5. If a <br />worst case analysis is assumed that all of the flow from the springs <br />would be interrupted, the resultant flora reduction in Middle Creek would <br />be .02 cfs. This amount is insignificant to the flow of Middle Creek. <br />N mine inflow study was also undertaken by the company. This information <br />is provided on Map 1 of the application. This map shows that the mine <br />inflow is restricted to floor seeps occurring in fault block one, and the <br />total rate of water production underyround is 40 gallons per hour. An <br />underground inspection of the mine was conducted by the Division which <br />confirmed that absolutely no water was beiny made throuyh the fault zones <br />even in areas where the mine is lower than Trout Creek stream level. A <br />mine sump water sample was taken and the analysis is presented on paye 59 <br />of the applicatidn. This analysis shows acceptable water quality as <br />defined for the Trout Creek drainage by the Colorado Uepart~nent of <br />Health, Water Quality Control Co~nmissior~. The mine inflow study and sump <br />water analysis will be conducted on a yearly basis rather than monitoring <br />ground water by an bedrock monitoring well network. The mine inflow <br />study and the spring survey will detect any affects to the prevailing <br />hydrologic balance earlier than a monitoring well grid. The Division has <br />determined, from the information supplied, that the operation will <br />minimize impacts to ground water. <br />VII. Alluvial Valley Floors - Rules 2.06.8 and 4.24 <br />Sufficient information was provided by the applicant on pages 65-65.05 <br />and on map AVF-2 for the Uivision to determine that Trout Creek and <br />Middle Creek meet the criteria for alluvial valley floors (A.V.F's). <br />Ns Map 2 of this document shows, the Trout Creek A.U.F runs through the <br />southeast portion of the permit area and the hliddle Creek N.V.F, is <br />located 4000' northwest of the permit area. The nearest ayricultural <br />activity is, however, over one mile downstream along Trout Creek and <br />approximately 4000' to the northwest in the next drainage of Middle <br />Creek. IJeither N.V.F. will be undermined. The mine entries have been <br />driven into the northwest hillside away from Trout Creek. <br />According to both State and Federal law, an area can be declared <br />unsuitable for mining because of possible effects to an alluvial valley <br />floor. The Bureau of Land Management reviewed the application applying <br />unsuitability criteria to the following portion of the permit area, <br />finding these areas suitable for mining: <br />T4N, KBGW, 6th P.M. <br />Section 22: SW 1/4 NW 1/4, NE 1/4 SW 1/4, SE 1/4 NW 1/4 <br />Unsuitability criteria were not applied to the remainder of the permit <br />area due to financial and legal commitments made prior to 1977. <br />In the same manner, the State of Colorado also has an exemption for mines <br />having shown financial and legal commitments prior to August 3, 1977. <br />