GENERAL46014

• Permit No: C1984065
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 11/17/1992
• Doc Name: PROPOSED DECISION & FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE FOR RN2
• Permit Index Doc Type: FINDINGS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

the bedrock, development of water from these seams outside the
permit area would be economically prohibitive. For these
reasons, significant impacts to ground water quality and
quantity in bedrock from mining at the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine
are not expected to occur.
Ground water development in the area is dominated by wells
producing from the alluvium of the Colorado River and its
tributaries. Water level and quality of the alluvial ground
water are closely related to Colorado River surface water level
and quantity.
The major source of ground water along the Colorado River is
provided by the alluvial deposits fringing the river which have
relatively good water quality. Surface water tributaries and
their alluvial bodies along the Colorado River also provide
significant quantities of water for irrigation, stock,
municipal and domestic purposes. Most local wells completed in
the alluvial aquifers are less than 100 feet deep in the area
of the mine. The alluvium in the area is recharged from
contact with surface water of the Colorado River and its
tributaries, and from upland sheet flow and snow melt. The
alluvial bodies adjacent to the Colorado River will release
water back to the surface water system during periods of low
flow. Therefore, any impacts to the alluvial ground water will
also have the potential to impact the quality or quantity of
water within the Colorado River.
The alluvium present in the vicinity of the Coal Ridge No. 1
Mine and adjacent to the Colorado River is recharged by the
Colorado River surface water and by surface runoff from the
upland area. The subcrop of the Wheeler Seam is located
approximately 55 feet above the alluvium and dips steeply away
from the alluvial body. Undermining of the alluvial body will
not occur during the life of the mine. Therefore, dewatering
of the Wheeler Seam due to mining is not expected to impact the
alluvium or surface water system of the Colorado River. (For
further information see Alluvial Valley Floor, Section IX of
this document.)
Springs and seeps within the permit area were identified by the
applicant. One spring, located in South Canyon to the east of
the permit area, appeared to be seeping from beneath the toe of
a possible slump or old fill. The flow at this spring has
always been less than 1 gpm, and is evaporated before reaching
any surface water body. The spring appears to be emanating
from the Mesaverde Group.
The present term of the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine will involve an
operations plan that calls for minor disturbance both on the
surface and underground, compared to the life-of-mine plan.
The proposed surface disturbance for this permit term is 20
acres. Underground disturbance is proposed for 159 acres in
this permit term. Obviously, the potential impacts of the
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