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operations on site. As discussed in the reclamation plan, mining will modify <br />the existing drainages across the property and into the San Juan River and <br />Rio Blanco, but will not significantly impact flows or points of entry. <br />10. Other than disturbances in vegetation, area exposed to erosion, and <br />evaporation, the only significant change in drainage basin characteristics is <br />the blocking of potential surface flows from pit and working areas during the <br />life of the pit and after reclamation, resulting in increased infiltration into the <br />surficial alluvial deposits and bedrock beneath the material being mined. The <br />impact will be minimal, as less than 0.001% of the total basin will be blocked <br />from discharging at any one time during mining and reclamation operations. <br />Unneeded or prohibited actions: <br />1. Since discharge is to be avoided as much as possible, and only after water <br />has accumulated for a length of time, it is not expected that discharge <br />temperature regulation may be required. <br />2. No dewatering is anticipated, due to site configuration and infiltration. <br />3. Water used for washing of material and dust control will not be discharged, <br />but will be recirculated/recycled as much as possible, and otherwise allowed <br />to infiltrate above the shale either to flow as groundwater or evaporate. <br />4. Avoid exposure to precipitation and surface runoff (including sheet flow) of <br />the Mancos Shale bedrock, to prevent dissolution of salts and other materials <br />in the shale which could then flow downstream or collect in open <br />evaporation basins. <br />5. Compliance with best management practices (in particular, prohibition of <br />certain activities without mitigation measures) to protect the stream and <br />bodies of water on the site as listed above. Best management practices <br />(BMP) forbid the discharge of heavily sediment-laden waters and <br />implementation of spill control and countermeasures actions to prevent <br />discharge of a spilled substance. The buffer zones are established for a <br />variety of reasons, including protection of drainage, preservation of river <br />bottomlands, wildlife, neighbors, and prevention of downstream water <br />degradation due to sedimentation. <br />G-2. GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT: <br />There are no known wells within'/4 mile of the site boundaries, except for the two <br />wells on the site. (See Figure G-1) <br />1. Sources of Ground Water on site or potentially affected by operations on site: <br />None. There are two wells on the site: one for the gravel pit itself and one for <br />domestic use by the owner/operator of the property and mining operation, <br />located to the north of the permit area with the top of the well below the <br />planned excavation depth of the gravel extraction. The two well permits <br />located in the NE quarter of Section 2 (SW of the Noland property) have expired; <br />the nearest known well is located approximately 3/4 mile E of the site, belongs to <br />Exhibits for 112(c) AM-02 Application -M-1994-108-2010- Page 38