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bench area at the lower Hubbard Creek site and the topsoil stockpile at the <br />upper Hubbard Creek site. The buffer zone variances on the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison are located at the alluvial well and leach tieldsjust above and below <br />the town of Somerset (4.05.18(1)). <br />2. The Division has approved surface and underground mining operations <br />within and through Elk Creek, an intermittent stream. The Division made the <br />findings that: 1) the stream channel will be reconstructed in accordance with <br />the requirements of Rule 4.05.4(4), 2) during and after mining, the water <br />quantity and quality from the stream section within 100 feet of the surface <br />coal mining operations shall not be adversely affected, and 3) the reclamation <br />plan provides for the reestablishment of appropriate riparian vegetation. <br />K. Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining (2.05.6(3)(b)(iii)) <br />This section reviews the Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) of mining at the <br />Somerset Mine and Sanborn Creek Mine locations. The review includes the <br />probable consequences which will result from the entire Somerset Mine and Sanborn <br />Creek Mine. The Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study (CHIS) for the North Fork <br />of the Gunnison River contains a detailed analysis of the cumulative impacts of all <br />currently permitted mine activities within the North Fork of the Gunnison River <br />drainage basin. The CHIS document is available for review at the Division office. <br />This PHC is based upon information contained within Permit No. C-81-022 <br />(Somerset Mine and Sanbom Creek Mine) and upon the analyses contained within <br />the CHIS for the North Fork Gunnison River. The PHC separately addresses <br />potential effects on groundwater and surface water. <br />Effects on Groundwater <br />Mining of the Sanbom Creek Mine and the Somerset Mine will impact the ground <br />water regime within the immediate area of the proposed operation, but the impact <br />will not cause material damage to the ground water regime. <br />Though the proposed operation will mine both the B and C seams that have been <br />mined before at the old Somerset Mine, the Sanborn Creek Mine will not be <br />connected to the old workings and will be protected by a 100-foot buffer. The old <br />mine is flooded and the proposed buffer will protect the new operation from possible <br />inundation from the old workings. The 100-foot buffer will be maintained by <br />advance drilling to find the location of the old workings. <br />Mine water inflow into the Sanborn Creek workings is estimated to be 425 gpm or <br />less. The old Somerset Mine had an inflow rate of O.I5667 gpm/acre for the 1,500 <br />acres of development in the mine that was below the level of the North Fork River. <br />19 <br />