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composed of soils and rock fragments which have been deposited chiefly by mass-wasting, <br />usually at the base of steep slopes. <br />Surface Water <br />The Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine permit area is located in the Upper Colorado River Basin, in portions of <br />three watersheds: the Colorado River, Alkali Creek, and South Canyon Creek. Proposed mining <br />operations beneath portions of the Alkali and South Canyon Creek watersheds did not occur. <br />Water from the Colorado River is of good quality and is used for domestic and irrigation purposes. <br />Salinity concerns have resulted in the establishment of standazds for the upper and lower Colorado <br />River basin (including the Colorado River and Alkali Creek). Water has been monitored since 1981 <br />on Alkali Creek and 1983 on the Colorado River. The Colorado Department of Public Health and <br />Environment receiving stream standazds for some metals have occasionally been exceeded in both <br />the Colorado River and Alkali Creek, but the elevated metals were not determined to be mine <br />related. See PAP pages 3-40 through 3-49 for more information on surface hydrology. <br />Only small ephemeral drainages cross the site. All surface runoff from disturbed azeas is either <br />directed to a sedimentation pond or approved for exemption (small areas) from treatment through <br />a sedimentation pond. <br />Groundwater <br />Hydrogeological field studies, including the establishment of a groundwater monitoring system of <br />the permit azea, began in late 1981. These studies included spring and seep surveys, alluvial, <br />colluvial, and bedrock groundwater monitoring, water quality and quantity analyses, aquifer testing, <br />and geologic mapping. <br />Potential water-bearing zones were identified in the Rollins, Middle and Upper Sandstone and the <br />Wheeler Coal. The first three units have been recognized as regional aquifers where the <br />hydrogeologic conditions aze suitable. Ground water occurs in both bedrock and alluvial deposits in <br />the vicinity of the proposed mining operation. The potential for groundwater within the azea of the <br />mine is greatly limited by the extreme dip of the rock strata which results in prohibitive drilling <br />depths within a short distance. <br />All water from the three sandstone zones is of a sodium-bicazbonate water type. Total dissolved <br />solids range from 575 to 1,340 mg/1. This water type and range of concentrations aze very similar to <br />analyses from the same geologic units taken from other locations along this structure and sfratigraphy <br />sequence. <br />ClimatoloQy <br />The climate is semi-and with an annual precipitation of 16 inches. Average monthly precipitation <br />varies little throughout the yeaz. Precipitation vanes little seasonally, averaging one to two inches per <br />month. Snowfall can reach up to 60 inches in higher elevations. <br />Summers aze hot, marked by very low humidity and cool nights. Winters aze cold, generally snow- <br />11 June 1, 2006 <br />