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establishment of vegetation. The predominantly herbaceous nature of the vegetation to <br />be established will ultimately provide greater cover and erosion control than the native <br />pre-mine vegetation. <br />The Cazbon Junction Mine will minimally impact both the quality and quantity of ground <br />and surface waters. A discussion of the probable hydrologic consequences of mining is <br />set forth below as well as in the CDMG findings document for the initial approval of <br />permit C-92-080. The CDMG discussion of probable hydrologic consequences is <br />incorporated by reference into this document. This discussion includes a quantitative <br />analysis of the impacts of the proposed operation on the existing ground and surface <br />water resources, both quantity and quality impacts. <br />There are no regional aquifers that will be interrupted or impacted by the proposed <br />mining activity. Ground water in the area is found in discontinous lenses within <br />lenticular sandstones, fractures and in coal seams. Ground water analysis indicates that <br />the water found in the coal seams is of good quality and has no acid or toxic materials in <br />the analysis. <br />According to test data, little to no water will filtrate to the Pictured Cliff Sandstones, and <br />otherwise, the coals seams and perched water aze expected to discharge to the reclaimed <br />pit. Overburden and refuse analysis indicate no acid or toxic materials are found in the <br />materials. Sulfur materials in the refuse will be placed no less than 20 feet above the pit <br />water level in reclamation although there is no available information indicating the two to <br />three percent (2 to 3%) sulfur in the reject is acid forming. <br />Regazding the concern for the lower Fruitland Formation and the Pictured Cliffs <br />Sandstone being a regional aquifer, the Division is referred to: Availability and Chemical <br />Chazacteristics of Groundwater in Central La Plata Countv. Colorado by Robert E. <br />Brogden and T.F. Giles, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations 76-69, <br />prepared in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of <br />Water Resources, Open File Report; Lakewood, Colorado; May, 1976. This report maps <br />the locations and summarizes water quality for 38 wells in the Durango area. None of the <br />wells investigated were completed in the referenced formations. Additionally the <br />formations aze mentioned as potential aquifers, because no wells completed in either <br />formation could be located by the authors. Mr. Carl Hutchinson with the U.S.G.S. stated <br />that the purpose of this open file report was to supply the State Engineer with data on the <br />various formations acting as aquifers (personal communication February 6, 1983). The <br />results of this report tend to confirm the assertion that the Fruitland Formation and the <br />Pictured Cliffs Sandstone aze not being utilized as aquifers in the Durango azea (certainly <br />not within 2 miles of the mine site as State Engineer s well records indicate). Indeed, the <br />basic premise that the formations are aquifers in the Durango azea becomes suspect. <br />The overall operation reclamation plan has been established to protect the quality of <br />surface and ground water. Surface water outside of the disturbed azea is diverted, as <br />TR08, TRl1 (v 1.0) 5-46 Revised 9/97, 8/02 <br />