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West Elk Mine . Mountain Coal Company's current mining plans will not affect the terrace north of the river (Area 1). Relocation of State Highway 133, has permanently altered the site. Accordingly, any designation or nondesignation of this azea as an AVF is moot. The terrace azea previously occupied by the Bear Mine portal and office complex (SE '/<, Section 9, T13S, R90W, south side of the North Fork,) has had a mining land use pattern for the last 45 yeazs. Substantial modification of the area has occurred over time. Geomorphic evidence indicates that this terrace is nothing more than a glacial remnant gravel bar not directly associated with the "present alluvial system" except by proximity. Mining activities at the West Elk Mine will not affect the quantity or quality of water in the North Fork. The F coal seam lies a significant distance above the river and is not considered to be an aquifer. Surface facilities have been designed and located to prevent contamination of the river. The low terrace azea previously used for Beaz Coal Company's facilities and portal was reclaimed in 1984 with the exception of a portion of the site used for a temporary overburden stockpile. The stockpile has since been removed and the area will either be reclaimed or used for an additional fresh water storage pond. This is the only surface disturbance currently expected for this azea. Upon completion of mining activities, the disturbed azea will be regraded to match the remainder of the site, covered with suitable seed bed quality material and revegetated. As a result, the azea will exhibit the same general topographic configuration currently evident with its general proximity to the river unchanged. Any flood irrigatability capability that may have existed over 45 yeazs ago, prior to this area's use for coal mining, should be restored. • Mountain Coal Company has no control over the terrace azea on the north side of the North Fork (SW %<, Section 9, T13S) and has no plans for developing this site in association with the West Elk Mine. Less than 10 acres of noncolluvial materials aze evident at this location. Most of these are associated with the appazent glacial remnant gravel deposits. No agricultural activities have been conducted on this site. In the permit approval issued July 29, 1981, Mountain Coal Company was notified of a positive alluvial valley floor declaration for the North Fork of the Gunnison River in Section 18, T13S, R90W and Sections 13 and 14, T13S, R91W. A stipulation was included in the permit approval requiring that the applicant shall demonstrate that the mining operations' fresh water usage will not materially damage the quantity and quality of water supplying the alluvial valley floor. Information contained in this document, the Technical Environmental Analysis completed for OSM by Willazd Owens and Associates and the West Elk NPDES pemut application was assimilated to provide an assessment of risk of material damage to quantity and quality of water supplying the AVF identified on the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Changes in the quantity of water supplied to the AVF depend on the difference between water used and water discharged to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. It is stated in the Water System and Consumption Section that 200,000 gallons per day would be required during the maximum production of 2.8 MM tons per yeaz for coal spraying, dust suppression and all other surface facility • use. Since the mine is expected to operate about 244 days per yeaz, total water use is expected to be about I50 acre-feet per yeaz during maximum projected production. This represents less than 0.04 2.06-8