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U <br />STREAMFLOW DEPLETION <br />SUMMARY <br />The estimate of streamflow depletion at the Bear No. 3 Mine is based on <br />water consumed for three primary purposes: <br />• Dust suppression in the Bear No. 3 Mine <br />• Bathhouse Facilities <br />• Dust suppression on the surface facilities site <br />Water for dust suppression and bathhouse facilities at the Bear No. 3 <br />Mine is pumped from a shallow well drilled in the alluvium adjacent to <br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Water used to suppress dust at <br />the surface facilities site is pumped from either the facilities site <br />sediment pond or directly from the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br />• The Bear Coal Company currently operates at a production rate of about <br />275,000 tons per year. Since the coal market is not favorable at <br />present, no increase in production is anticipated. In addition, no <br />increase in the area of the surface facilities site is anticipated. <br />WATER CONSUMPTION <br />Records for 1984 indicate that about 2,100,000 gallons of water was <br />pumped from the shallow well at the Bear No. 3 Mine. <br />During the dryer months of late spring, summer, and early fall, water is <br />pumped from the sediment pond or directly from the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River to complete road and site dust suppression. It is <br />estimated that 131,000 gallons are consumed in this manner. Although <br />some dust control water may find its way back to the sediment pond or <br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River, this amount is assumed to be <br />insignificant. <br />-2- <br />