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Since the mine will encounter water in the mining operation below 4'excavation, pit pumping is <br />needed. A diesel powered pump will be placed at the low point of Phase 1, from which PVC pipe <br />will deliver the water to the sediment pond. See Map C-2. Pumping is expected to be from 1000 <br />to 2000 gallons per minute during the initial stages of each pit and, after one month, the rate <br />should drop to less than 700 gallons per minute. Gravel filter berms will be used in the pits to <br />reduce sedimentation and the both the lakes and the sediment pond will further reduce the <br />sediment for discharge. The pond will have a manually operated gate controlling the discharge. <br />Elam will receive a combined storm water process and process water discharge permit <br />specifically for sand and gravel mining for this site. The pond discharge enters the Ana Branch <br />north of the permit area. <br />All discharges from pumping water will be regulated under a combined storm water/process <br />water permit that is being approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and <br />Environment. If the water quality is out of compliance, water will not be discharged until it is in <br />compliance. <br />3. Groundwater <br />Below this gravel zone is the very thick and impermeable Lewis Shale. Test pits on the Bunn <br />Ranch site reveal that the ground water table is approximately 4 feet below the surface. The <br />levels will fluctuate depending on the time of year and in response to Yampa River levels. <br />There are no groundwater wells within 600' of the operation that are used as a source of water. A <br />gravel well permit is in place on the Northwest Readymix Site north of the Ana Branch. <br />5 Water Consumption for the Operation and Water Rights <br />Gehrman Pit October 09 G-2