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In addition, WSC has received a well permit to use water produced in the <br />• mine. All water wells known to Western Slope Carbon in the area are those <br />of the alluvium of the North Fork Gunnison River (Table III.A-1). Therefore, <br />the mining of these leases is not expected to have an effect on these wells. <br />WSC also has water decrees upon the river in conjunction with the acquisi- <br />tion of old mines and adjacent residential property. <br />3. Expected Effects on Water Resources <br />Dewatering mine refuse to a moisture content of 15 percent will alleviate <br />the influence of mine refuse water on groundwater below the E Seam. Since by <br />definition of "aquifer" (CDH, Rules for Subsurface Disposal Systems 7.2.2(2) <br />or USEPA 45 FR 33420) there may be no aquifer beneath the E Seam, water from <br />the mine refuse will not impact a source of water being tapped by area resi- <br />• dents. Water associated with the backfilled waste will not be toxic and will <br />have a pH similar to that of groundwater below the E Seam (Section II.B). <br />Groundwater relationships between backfilled mined areas and adjacent strata <br />may be facilitated by the fill material. <br />Surface water,in particular the North Fork Gunnison River, will be affected <br />by the disposal system inasmuch as additional water will be withdrawn for the <br />slurry transport process. This will be a small withdrawal increment in com- <br />parison with current usage and well within existing water rights to the river <br />water. <br />• <br />41 <br />