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Constmction and utilization of the suppott facilities will not result in damage or disruption of any oil or gas production or
<br />transmission facilities. Likewise, no utility lines for water, sewage, electrical or telephone services will be affected by the
<br />facilities. The only utilities in the area of the mining operation will be constructed for the specific purpose of providing
<br />services to those operations. Upon completion of all mining and related activities, it is anticipated that those utilities serving
<br />the mine site will either be stubbed off or removed.
<br />4.05 HYDROLOGIC BALANCE
<br />4.05.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
<br />All ongoing and planned underground mining and associated operations at EC will be conducted to minimize changes in
<br />the prevailing hydrologic balance in both the permit and adjacent areas, and to prevent long-term adverse changes in water
<br />quality and quantity which might result from the operations.
<br />As a preliminary step in minimizing adverse changes, hydrologic baseline information has been and is being collected,
<br />compiled, and analyzed. The hydrologic information is outlined in Section 2.04.7, Hydrology Information. This data
<br />provides detailed information on quality and quantity of surface water, ground water, drainage patterns, and geology. In
<br />addition, Section 2.05, Minimum Requirements for Operation and Reclamation Plans, details the specific mining and
<br />reclamation techniques which EC has and will implement to minimize changes to the hydrologic balance. The post-
<br />mining land use is described in Section 2.05.5, Post-Mining Land Uses. Changes in the hydrologic balance will be
<br />minimized so that post-mining land uses will not be adversely affected.
<br />Water quality standards and effluent limitations at the mining operation are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection
<br />Agency and the Colorado Department of Health, Water Pollution Control Division, under the temps of an NPDES pemilt,
<br />see Exhibit 2, Other Required Permits, and by the Coal Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. The
<br />applicable effluent limitations will be met by using treatment methods which include prompt revegetation, minimizing
<br />disturbed areas, sediment retention, use of contour furrows, mulching, sediment ponds, and if necessary, strategically placed
<br />energy dissipaters, such as riprap, check-dams, mulches, filters, and dugouts. Water quality control measures are discussed
<br />in detail under Sections 2.OS.3, 2.05.4, and 2.05.6 of this application.
<br />Where practical, diversion methods have been used to channel the flow of water from undisturbed areas so as to by-pass the
<br />disturbed area rather than using the drainage and sediment control system. The principal techniques to be used for this
<br />purpose will be diversion ditches. The locations of these diversion ditches are shown on the Drainage and Sediment Control
<br />Plan Map (Map 26) and are discussed in detail under Section 2.05.3, Operation Plan -Permit Area. The specific diversion
<br />ditch designs are presented in Exhibit 18, Drainage and Sediment Control Plan.
<br />As discussed in Section 2.05.4, Reclamation Plan, EC will use a cover crop mulch on the topsoil after its redistribution as
<br />one (1) method to prevent excessive wind or water erosion.
<br />EC plans to have surface runoff from the disturbed areas pass through sedimentation ponds. Sedimentation ponds are
<br />discussed in detail under Sections 2.05.3 and 2.05.6, and their locations are shown graphically on the Drainage and
<br />Sediment Control Map (Map 26). The detailed designs for all sedimentation ponds are presented in Exhibit 18, Drainage
<br />and Sediment Control Plan.
<br />In addition to the mining, reclamation, and treatment methods described and referenced in this section, further protection
<br />of the hydrologic balance will be established by an ongoing plan for monitoring any changes in surface water quality and
<br />quantity. This monitoring plan is described under Section 2.OS.6, Mitigation of the Impacts of Mining Operations, and
<br />monitoring locations are graphically shown on the Hydrologic Monitoring Program Location Map (Map 11).
<br />Permit Revision 04-34 4.01-3 Revised 7/2/04
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