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• Chapter IV <br />Environmental Consequences Of The Alternatives <br />A. Protected Resources. <br />1. Cultural, paleontological, or historic values: <br />If archaeological resources are discovered in areas which may <br />be affected by mining, Colorado MLRD will ensure protection of <br />those resources pursuant to the Colorado State Program. <br />The State of Colorado is required to provide protection for <br />cultural, paleontological, and historic resources as required by <br />the State Program. The MLRD has added Stipulation Number 50 to the <br />permit revision approval that requires the permittee to conduct an <br />archeological investigation of unsurveyed areas of high potential <br />prior to disturbance by mining activities. If cultural resources <br />are discovered during the investigation, the State may order <br />revision of the permit, as required, to protect those resources. <br />2. Water quality/supply values. <br />Impact by the mine on the quantity of water available on the <br />• artesian bedrock aquifer being tapped by the fracture zone in the <br />Second Right entry area is probable. The identity of this aquifer <br />is uncertain, but the Trinidad Sandstone is a possibility. The <br />Trinidad Sandstone is a regional aquifer with potential recharge <br />areas at appropriate elevations southwest and west of the mine. <br />In excess of 500 gpm was estimated as initially issuing from <br />the fracture zone. Currently the water flow from the fracture zone <br />totals somewhat less than 200 gpm. Such flow will reduce the <br />potentiometric surface for the aquifer over a large area. The <br />depth of the aquifer is, however, such that no wells in the area <br />apparently produce from it. As a result, no reduction of use of <br />water from this aquifer has occurred or is anticipated for the <br />future. <br />Prior to encountering the water bearing fracture zone in the <br />Second Right entries, dewatering of the Maxwell and Allen coal <br />seams (the .coal seam aquifer) was anticipated to create a drawdown <br />in the piezometric surface in the coal aquifer in and around the <br />mine. Drawdown of a foot or more could extend outward as far as <br />2 to 3 miles from the Golden Eagle mine (See Exhibit 6 of the <br />Golden Eagle permit). <br />• <br />9 <br />