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limited livestock grazing. However, for the most part, the surrounding land is undeveloped and is used primarily as wildlife habitat. Recreational activities such as big game hunting, trapping, fishing and off-road driving also occur in the general area. Cultural and Historic Resources - Rule 2.04.4 and 2.05.6(4) Cultural and historic resources are discussed in Section 2.04.4 of the permit application. In October 1977, Centuries Research, Inc. conducted a cultural resource survey of the Blue Ribbon proposed mine site. The survey found the area to contain no cultural resources. The State Historical Preservation Officer concluded that the Blue Ribbon Mine would not impact significant cultural resources. Hydrologic Balance - Rule 2.04.5, 2.04.7, 2.05.3(4), 2.05.6(3) and 4.05 Groundwater information can be found in the permit document in Section 2.04.7. The locations of monitoring sites can be found in Exhibit Z. A description of groundwater occurrence and mining impacts on groundwater within the permit and adjacent areas can be found in the "Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining" section of this document and the "Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study" document for this mine area. The coal outcrop of the E seam, which Blue Ribbon has mined, is about 80 to 100 feet above the stream bed of Hubbard Creek. The disturbed areas and underground mine areas are upland to the alluvial valley materials. The major portion of the mine workings are above the level of Hubbard Creek, so the mine presently does not experience any inflows which can be directly related to water flowing in Hubbard Creek. The alluvium of Hubbard Creek is the only aquifer which was used within the permit and adjacent areas. This aquifer supplied the water that was consumed at the Blue Ribbon Mine. This aquifer is an isolated body of alluvium. Up- and downstream of the mine, the Hubbard Creek stream valley narrows and the stream flows over resistant sandstone bedrock. The Rollins Sandstone is the most significant regional bedrock aquifer in the North Fork drainage basin. This aquifer outcrops in a narrow steep reach along Hubbard Creek about a mile downstream of the mining operation. Recharge to this aquifer is limited within the Hubbard Creek drainage. The potential use of this aquifer is limited by the steep valley slopes below the mine and the aquifer's limited recharge area. No groundwater from the Rollins Sandstone will appear as mine inflows within the Blue Ribbon Mine, since the mine workings are all stratigraphically above the Rollins Sandstone. The E coal seam is not an aquifer. The mine workings are dry, except in a few areas of fracturing. Surface water information can be found in Section 2.04.7 of the permit document. The locations of monitoring sites can be found in Exhibit Z. -5-