2008-09-29_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (4)

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RULE 2 PERMITS farmland under Section 2.04.12, Prime Farmland Investigation, these performance standards do not apply to the permit application. 2.06.7 Variances for Delay in Contempraneous Reclamation Requirements in Combined Surface and Underground Mining Operations This Subsection is not applicable to the mining operations planned by Colowyo. 2.06.8 Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations on Areas or Adjacent to Areas Including Alluvial Valley Floors General Both a field investigation and technical evaluation of all drainages containing streams within and adjacent to the permit have been conducted in accordance with this Section and draft OSM Technical Guideline, "OSM Alluvial Valley Floor Guidelines", dated June 11, 1980. The investigation resulted in no identification of alluvial valley floors in the area to be mined; however, the floodplains of Goodspring Creek, Wilson Creek, lower Taylor Creek and lower Elkhorn Creek may conform to the geomorphic criteria of AVF surface landforms because they are underlain by unconsolidated material of Quaternary Age. None of these floodplains are located in the area to be mined as shown on the Mine Plan Map (Map 23). The Gossard Loadout is located in an area between Wilson Creek and Taylor Creek near the junction of these two drainages; however, no major subsurface disturbance has occurred in this area which might adversely affect the possible subsurface hydrologic system with regards to potential alluvial valley floors. The actual area to be mined is located well above the flood plain of Goodspring Creek both topographically and geologically. As discussed in Section 2.04.7, the existence of groundwater in the mining area is limited to perched systems which primarily discharge small amounts of water in the canyon walls near the mine on a seasonal basis. Very little water is found in the active mine; and, based on existing geological and hydrological evidence, the area to be mined provides no or only minor amounts of recharge to Goodspring Creek and Taylor Creek. Therefore, the flood plains of Goodspring Creek, Wilson Creek, and lower Taylor Creek should not be adversely affected by mining operations. Geomorphic Characteristics The investigation was initiated by mapping unconsolidated deposits in the general area, using published and unpublished geologic maps and ground reconnaissance. These deposits and their associated stream channels are shown on the Regional Hydrology Map (Map 10). Also shown are delineations of Goodspring Creek, Wilson Creek, and Taylor Creek watersheds and the general topography of the flood- plain areas. From field reconnaissance, it was determined that many of the mapped floodplains in the general area are extremely narrow or contain too much topographic relief in the form of slopes to be considered capable of being irrigated. Agricultural Activities Section 2.04.3 contains a description and map of agricultural activities in the permit and adjacent area. The Land Use Map (Map 17) shows that the historical pre-mining land use of the area has been generally undeveloped rangeland. The description under Section 2.04.3 documents vegetation type in the permit area. Historically, there has not been a developed water supply for agricultural activities to expand upon; however, some limited irrigation is conducted in the floodplains of Goodspring Creek and lower Wilson Creek. Rule 2 Permits 2.06-6 Revision Date: 6/23/08 Revision No.: MR-91