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<br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board <br />January 18, 1978 <br />Page 2 <br />Briefly stated, the materials indicate that <br />the well is one which is exempt from offici~il <br />administration under the laws of the State of <br />Colorado, and that it was drilled with the l~:nowledge <br />and permission of the Colorado Division of 47ater <br />Resources. <br />Usage of water from this well has at all times been frilly <br />consistent with its decree. Sewage is first brought t:o a <br />septic tank, the effluent from which then passes through the <br />mine's treatment plant. <br />Based upon the data available to Cotter, it appears <br />that about five percent (5~) of this water is consumptively <br />used. <br />2. Mine Water Used For Ore-Washing. <br />Approximately 664,000 gallons of water per <br />day are pumped from the mine as a result of necessary de- <br />watering operations. All of this water which is not consumed <br />is treated and then diverted into Ralston Creek. This <br />diverted water exceeds all pertinent water quality standards. <br />Of this 664,000 gallons, roughly three percent (3.08), or <br />20,000 gallons per day, are used in the ore-washing opera- <br />tions. In turn, approximately ninety-eight percent (98.0) <br />of this ore-washing water (or 19,600 gallons per day) is <br />treated and returned to Ralston Creek. Accordingly, of the <br />amounts of mine water derived from dewatering, only about <br />0.068 (or about 1/3 acre-foot of water annually) is consumed <br />in the ore-washing process. Since 1/3 acre-foot represents <br />only about 0.006 percent of the average annual flow of <br />Ralston Creekl it is evident that there is no discernible <br />impact of Cotter's ore-washing operation upon the vested <br />rights of others. <br />Dr. Danielson's memorandum also sought information <br />regarding the legal right of Cotter to put the water from <br />Input from Zorich-Erker Engineering, Inc. <br />