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<br /> <br />Stipulation No. 2 of the original findings requiring professional <br />post-construction certification of these ponds has been satisfied. <br />The applicant has received small area exemptions from sediment control <br />for two areas; the fan area, which includes a road, and a storage area <br />containing an air shaft and escape hoist. The disturbed areas are <br />covered with gravel, therefore, little erosion occurs. No erosional <br />problems have been observed by Division inspectors. A discussion of <br />these areas is included in the original findings. <br />The absence of a surface water budget accompanying the original permit <br />application was addressed by Stipulation 3. This Stipulation has been <br />satisfied and the information included on page 2.05-38 and in Exhibit 10 <br />of the renewal application. <br />With the satisfaction of Stipulations 2 and 3, the proposed operation is <br />in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />VI. F~droloq~ic Balance: Ground Water - Rules 2.04.5, 2.04.7, 2.05.3 <br />m--r~ ~ r~~r-r <br />Information regarding the occurrence, quantity, and quality of ground <br />water is found on pages 2.04-7 through 32 of the permit application <br />document together with Exhibits 6, 8, 9, and 10 and Map 7. <br />All of the sedimentary rock strata exposed over the mine area together <br />with the Maxwell Coal Seam mined at the Golden Eagle Mine are members of <br />the Raton Formation. This formation is 1,200 to 1,600 feet thick. The <br />Maxwell seam is found near the middle of the Raton Formation and acts as <br />a laterally extensive aquifer, but has limited permeability and poor <br />water quality. Above the Maxwell seam, interbedded sandstone, siltstone, <br />and shale rock units sustain localized perched aquifers. These aquifers <br />are laterally and vertically discontinuous and have low permeabilities, <br />but do provide provide limited quantities of ground water for watering <br />livestock and for wildlife in the area of the mines. <br />The Vermejo Formation underlies the Raton Formation. The Vermejo <br />Formation, like the Raton Formation, consists of interbedded and <br />Lenticular shales, siltstones, sandstones, and coals. Some of the <br />sandstones and siltstones are very localized, discontinuous aquifers. <br />None of the wells inventoried in the general area of the mine appear to <br />be completed in this formation. <br />The Trinidad Sandstone underlies the Vermejo Formation. The Trinidad <br />Sandstone is a laterally extensive sandstone unit used as a key marker <br />bed in the Raton Basin. This formation consists of massive and <br />interbedded sandstones. The formation is a significant regional aquifer, <br />because of its lateral extent and saturated thickness. The Trinidad <br />Sandstone is not used as a water supply in the permit and adjacent areas, <br />probably due to the availability of alluvial and surface water supplies, <br />and the depth of drilling required to tap this aquifer. This aquifer, <br />however, may be the source of the water flow encountered in conjunction <br />-g- <br />