1986-06-13_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981018

Home Browse Search

• -30- Sti ulation No. 7 required a mitigation pl an for protecting agricultural activities along the White River. Based on the installation of Kenney Reservoir within the area potentially affected by pumping water from the White River alluvium, the requirements of Stipulation No. 7 are no longer applicable. The portion of the alluvial valley floor in the vicinity of the Deserado Mine well field previously used for agriculture is now completely underwater year round. Two other agricultural areas (alfalfa fields) located upstream from the well field are above the water level of the lake, however recharge to the alluvium is now controlled almost entirely by the reservoir. Any pumping activities at the alluvial well field will have no measurable effect on sub-irrigation water levels in either of the two crop areas. As such, Stipulation No. 7. is considered resolved. No other surface facilities are proposed by the permittee which would in any way significantly affect agricultural activities established on the alluvial valley floor of the White River. No underground mining activities are proposed beneath any portions of the identified AVF during the permit term or over the proposed life of the mining operation. Therefore, pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5) (i) and (iii ), the Division finds that: The proposed surface coal mining operation will not interrupt, discontinue or preclude farming on an alluvial valley floor; and The proposed surface coal mining operation will not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in surface and underground systems that supply alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. VIII. Water Rights and Replacement - Rules 2.04.1(3), 2.05.6(3)(a)(ii ), 2.07.6(2)(c), an Portions of the application relevant to surface and ground water rights in the vicinity of the mine have been submitted to the Office of the State Engineer, Division of-4ater Resources. The State Engineers' Office has determined that there are no problems with the operation with respect to water rights. Section II.C.4, pages 102-104 of Volume 1 of the application contains information on water rights in the vicinity of the operation. The application indicates that of the water rights existing within 70 square miles encompassing the lease area, all are surface water rights for the direct use of White River water. The permittee has secured rights for 180.3 cfs from the Moon Lake-Staley Mine Pipeline and Reservoir located at the alluvial well field in the NS 1/4, SE 1 /4 of Section 11 , T2N, R101W. A second water right obtained by Western Fuels, listed under Moon Lake Power will allow them to withdraw 6 cfs from a diversion point downstream of the mine on the White River near Rangely (Page V-1 of Volume 4 of the permit application) . This water supply exceeds the estimated requirement of the mine, and would be available as an alternative water supply should mining operations adversely impact the surface water regime. If tension cracks from subsidence cause stock ponds in the Scullion Gulch basin to lose impounded water, for example, supplies from the Rangely