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The operator has shown appropriate documentation of right for water consumption. <br />Domestic water is supplied by Palisade Domestic Water. <br />Since cessation of mine and wash plant operations in 1999, water consumption has <br />declined dramatically, and is now limited to surface dust suppression associated with <br />reclamation operations and loadout operations. <br />All sediment ponds in the permit area are designed to retain less than ten acre-feet of <br />water. The largest designed pond is Pond 6, with a maximum capacity of 3.95 acre-feet. <br />This pond has a primary spillway with a gated valve which allows for dewatering of the <br />pond as soon as the discharge can meet effluent limits. Any water that maybe detained in <br />the sediment ponds is not put to any beneficial use. The sewage treatment lagoons are <br />designed to treat 0.24 acre-feet within atwo-week period. No water rights are required for <br />the sediment ponds or the sewage lagoons. <br />Water depletion projections were updated to reflect current and anticipated future <br />conditions in association with PR-3, in 2007. Annual depletion of 22.1 acre feet was <br />projected, and is described in amended Tab 16, Section 2.05.6(1) ofthe permit application. <br />Surface Water Quality <br />Possible hydrologic impacts on quality of surface water due to the Roadside and Cameo Mines <br />include impacts to: <br />1. Colorado River water due to mine water discharge, and <br />2. Runoff from surface disturbance. <br />As discussed in Section II.A. of this document, the operator previously submitted a report <br />to the Colorado Department of Health (CDOH) addressing the feasibility of treatment <br />approaches to reduce salt contribution to the Colorado River. Based on review of the <br />report, CDOH determined that no action was required of the operator to reduce salt <br />contributions to the river and the operator has been exempted from specific numeric <br />limitations or construction of new treatment facilities. Quarterly total dissolved solids <br />monitoring is still required. <br />Mine discharge from the Roadside Mines were estimated to increase soluble salts in the <br />river by 0.1 percent and dissolved iron by 0.2 percent (November 4, 1982 DMG Findings <br />Document). These predictions have proven to be accurate to date. <br />In its 1982 Findings, the Division also predicted that water quality effects would be <br />"minimal and will not significantly decrease water quality in the Colorado River." Surface <br />and groundwater monitoring to date (July 2007) have supported these projections. <br />Water monitoring conducted by the operator since 1982 has not identified any <br />unanticipated effects on river water quality. Mine water discharges from approved CDPS <br />points will continue to be analyzed annually for the list of parameters in Table 18-2 of the <br />permit. <br />Permit Renewal No. 5 31 November 16, 2007 <br />