PERMFILE104233

• Permit No: C1981038A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES - FISH & WILDLIFE APPENDIX
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

introduckion
• To ccanply with the regulations set forth by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) concerning the Windy Gap Process, Cyprus Orchard Valley Coal
Corporation (COVCC) provides the following updated streamflow depletion analysis
of the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) for water usage at the Orchard Valley
Mine.
Streamflow depletion of the North Fork of the Gunnison River occurs as a result
of water cons~tion at the Orchard Valley Mine. Streamflow depletion of the
North Fork contributes to streamflow depletion of the Upper Colorado River Basin
area. Although this depletion has no immediate effect on any threatened or
endangered species within the Orchard Valley permit area, several species are
potentially inq~acted further downstream. This streamflow depletion calculation
update is based upon meter readings indicative of total mine consumption over the
last 37 month period (August 07, 1990 through September Ol, 1993). 'Ihe following
depletion component discussions mirror the format utilized in the 1985 evaluation
conducted by Jim Miller of CvTi and included as part of Permit No. C-81-038.
Streamflow Depletion
Streamflow depletion occurs at the Orchard Valley Mine as a result of water usage
on the surface for roadway dust control, facilities maintenance and equisxnent
washdown, and water importation to the mine. COVCC derives its water for mine
operations from two (2) sources. A cooperative agreement with the Pitkin Mesa
Pipeline Company allows COVCC to withdraw water from this system when excess
• supply is available. The Pitkin Mesa Pipeline System is a spring fed system
sourced in the Gunnison National Forest north of the mine lease area. The
collected water is piped from the source through the mine lease area to a 30'
tall 500, 000 gallon storage tank. ODVCC withdraws water from this tank as
necessary and if available by virtue of a stand pipe within the tank which limits
mine withdrawal to periods during which the water level in the tank exceeds 18' .
An alluvial well known as the Orchard Valley Well No. 3 located in the SW; NW;
Section 13, TownsYlip 13 South, s2ange 92 West, 6th P.M. provides supplemental
water to the mine when the Pitkin system water is rat available. Mine
withdrawals from both the Pitkin system and the alluvial well are metered. Meter
readings fran these two sources have been evaluated for the 3 year period
preceding this report and are indicative of typical mine usage patterns
established. Average withdrawals during this period totalled 59.6 acre-feet per
year.
Minincr Consumption•
A study corxluc,-ted by CWI from September 1985 through April 1986 concluded
that additions of water to the mine are equivalent to approximately 2.5~
by weight of the total coal mined in any given year. Mining methods
utilized by COVOC are essentially identical to those utilized by GWI and
this conclusion is still believed to be valid. NVCC is scheduled to mine
approximately 1.5 million tons of opal per year throughout the next five
year permit term. At this rate of production, approximately 9,375,000
gallons of water, or 28.7 acre-feet will be importers into the mine and
. used for dust suppression at the face and roadway dust control on an
annual basis.