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17 <br />are addressed in the Foidel Creek Mine Permit (#C-82-0~6) and the reclamation liability for <br />these wells is included in that permit. The wells remain in use for water monitoring for the <br />Foidel Creek permit. <br />3. Surface Water Oualitv <br />Water quality upstream of the mine is affected by spoil spring and mine water discharge from <br />other mining activities, mainly spoil spring discharges from Eckman Park (#C-81-07]) and <br />underground mine discharge from the Foidel Creek mine (#C-82-0~6). Site 900 is the upstream <br />site for Energy Mine No. 3 on Foidel Creek and has a mean quarterly conductivity of <br />approximately 2500 umhos/cm. Site 700 is the upstream site on Middle Creek and has a mean <br />quarterly conductivity of 700 umhos/cm. Site 29 is the downstream site, located on Middle <br />Creek below sediment ponds M3S and M3N at Energy Mine No. 3. Site 29 has a mean quarterly <br />conductivity of approximately 1600 umhos/cm. The salinity increase in Middle Creek apparent <br />at site 29 is primarily associated with the influx of Foidel Creek waters, not by discharge from <br />ponds M3S and M3N. Discharge of spoil spring water through the sediment pond system at <br />Energy Mine No. 3 increases the salinity slightly to Middle Creek. These ponds discharge <br />mainly in the spring in response to snowmelt. They are the surface expression of the Energy <br />Mine No. 3 spoil aquifer, which has developed in the reclaimed Energy Mine No. 3 pit areas. <br />Pond dischazges are small and do not pose a threat to the current or anticipated future uses of <br />Figure 25 of the 1998 AHR for Energy Mine No. 3 cleazly depicts the relationship of Foidel <br />Creek and Middle Creek <br />4. Surface Water Ouantity <br />Mining modifies the character of the landscape and has the potential to increase runoff from the <br />reclaimed areas. The disturbed areas of Energy Mine No. 3 were altered from apre-mining <br />vegetative community of native grassland and brush to a post-mine condition of grassland. It is <br />possible that runoff from the reclaimed areas increases the amount of water to the surface water <br />system below the mine. Seasonal variation from one year to the next can be dramatic, based <br />mainly on the amount of snow pack each season. No identifiable increase or decrease in surface <br />water quantity is apparent from review of the 1998 AHR for Energy Mine No. 3. <br />IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS <br />Colorado Yampa Coal Company has replaced topsoil in accordance with the approved <br />reclamation plan. Colorado Yampa Coal Company has established vegetation that supports the <br />approved post mining land use and meets the approved success standards for vegetative cover, <br />herbaceous production, and diversity. The Division finds that the reclaimed area subject to this <br />bond release is not contributing suspended solids to streamflow or nmoff outside the permit area <br />in excess ofpre-mining levels or in excess of adjacent non-mined areas. <br />Colorado Yampa Coal Company: Mine Nn. 3. SL02 Findines 6/99 a.\COSd06?\SLO?fnd.doc <br />