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• NORTHFIELD MINE <br />REPORT ON HYDROLOGY IN SUPPORT <br />OF MINE PERMIT APPLICATION <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Northfield Partners LLC, plans to file a mine permit application to operate the Northfield Mine in Fremont <br />County, Colorado, as depicted on Figure 1. The coal seam to be mined is the Ocean Wave seam. This report <br />was prepazed to address surface and ground water hydrology, water rights, and alternative sources of water <br />pursuant to Rule 2.04.7(3) of the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. In addition, <br />this report presents comments and information pertaining to Section 2.05.06. It presents a description of the <br />geology, ground and surface water hydrology, water requirements, consumptive use and the relationship of the <br />use of water at the Northfield Mine to the stream system. <br />To complete this report, data available from the files of public agencies, including the State Engineer's Office, <br />were collected and reviewed, the mine site and surrounding areas were visited, records of water rights for the <br />azea were collected and analyzed, and previous reports and data were examined and utilized where possible. <br />• SUMMARY <br />Historic Conditions <br />The ground water system at the Northfield Mine area is characterized by low hydraulic parameters, limited and <br />discontinuous extent of water bearing materials, and limited use. The limited amount of ground water that may <br />be intercepted by the proposed Northfield Mine is probably connected to the surface stream system, as <br />suggested by the spring discharge in the area. Ground water in the Ocean Wave coal seam appears to <br />dischazge in small quantities to the lower Chandler Creek basin and possibly the Arkansas River alluvium as <br />base flow. Based on the information currently available, the amount of observable ground water dischazge, <br />however, is very small (10 to 20 acre-feet per yeaz) because of low rechazge rates in the area and low <br />permeabilities of the coal. The surface water systems of the area are considered ephemeral, except for the <br />perennial Arkansas River, which is located downstream of the permit azea. From the proposed mine site to the <br />confluence with the Arkansas River, Chandler Creek and the other drainages in the permit azea have <br />-1- <br />