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PREFACE WATER REPCACR7ENT PLANS • Matthew S. Sakurada, P.E. ~~ Colorado Westmoreland Inc. proposes water replacement plans for poten- tial subsidence-induced phenanenon. This effort is unprecedented. It is prepared using the best informatics available. Bec,3use of limited experience in subsidence-induced phenomenon, these plans are open to evaluation, appraisal, and justified changes. CWI pro- jects no mining in the initial permit term under 'Iprror Creek, East Fd~atcap Creek, West l~oatcap Creek, and Steven's Q~lch. Mining will be done under small tributary watersheds in Coal Oalch, Steven's (filch, and Terror Creek. Little effects are projected initially and the information gathered will be used to project future effects in other areas. CWI, through literature research, scientific study, regular monitoring, and technical analysis, will constantly update plans with the current state of the art. The plans are submitted with the QaI philosophy that coal mining can ~ done without the degradation or diminution of environmental resources or existing or projected land uses. In general, CWI's water rights protection strategy takes the following approach: • 1) Where possible, coal leases requested by Colorado Westmoreland Inc. have been located so as to minimize the effect of undermining, This is especially true of the recent long- term lease. Specifically, in the 'Iprror Creek area the boundary was located so as to put the stream channel canpletely and substantially outside the mine plan area and to undermine as small a portion of the overall watershed as possible. A similar approach was adopted in the West and Main Emat- cap Creek areas, including Long [saw. 2) In cooperation, the I~gulatory Au thorities, local water users, the Colorado Open Spaoe Council, and CWI designated buffer areas of limited mining extraction. These areas are located in areas of less t~~an 600 ft, of overburden and in the Steven's Qalch and East Fd~a~ cap drainage basins. 3) Adequate protection of water rights includes monitoring of water resources. CWI has designed and implemented an approved complete hydrologic monitoring program in the permit area. 4) Substantial protection of water rights can be afforded in conjunc- tion with regular monitoring, by quick repair of subsidence-induced problems. Although CWI projects shall effects due to subsidence, wE have endeavored to assure quick repair by anticipating and designing corrective measures, as described in the approved Subsidence F~pair Handbook, before the damage occurs.