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Mine water handling and treatment facilities are shown on Map 24, Surface Facilities, with water treatment systems
<br />• located at the Fish Creek Borehole and Water Treatment Site. Ground water inflows to the mine are pumped from
<br />the underground workings to mine water storage areas in the abandoned and sealed mine workings, then from
<br />sumps in these areas to the surface through mine dewatering boreholes. At the Fish Creek location, mine water is
<br />treated to meet applicable water quality effluent limitations to assure that downstream water rights are not impaired.
<br />The only water right potentially affected in the initial mining area (SWMD) was the TCC Area 1 Pit right, which is
<br />adjudicated for 20 acre -feet per year absolute, and 480 acre -feet per year conditional. This right was affected by
<br />use of water under this right for mining and related operations. Given that this right is owned by TCC, mitigation
<br />of any impacts to this private water rights resulting from mining and related operations was not necessary. Use and
<br />effects to this water right will continue throughout the mine life. In the unlikely event that mining operations are
<br />proven to impact private water users, TCC's extensive water rights would be available for mitigation under the
<br />existing approved Augmentation Plan. The Homestead Ditch on Trout Creek (upstream of any mining activities)
<br />can be utilized as a source of supplemental irrigation water for downstream users in the unlikely event that mining
<br />and related activities were to result in any contamination, diminution, or interruption of flows in the Trout
<br />Creek/Fish Creek system. Supplemental water can also be provided from other righted water sources, and domestic
<br />water can be supplied through a contract hauler to any affected party's.
<br />9- and 10 -Right Gateroad Extension
<br />TCC does not reasonably anticipate any impacts to the wells listed in Exhibit 6B or shown on Map 11 A from
<br />mining the 9- and 10 -Right Gateroads, given that these wells are relatively shallow and separated from the mine
<br />workings by the Marine Shale. This unit effectively acts as an aquiclude between the mine and overlying sandstone
<br />units. Any inflows into the mine, which might occur from the mining of the gateroads, would be from the Wadge
<br />Coal and Overburden sequence, and none of the wells listed in Exhibit 6B are completed in this geologic sequence.
<br />• In the unlikely event that a near - surface well is impacted by the mining operations, alternatives, including the use of
<br />righted water supplies, are available that could be used to address this impact under the approved Augmentation
<br />Plan. Potential alternatives to address any water rights impacts for wells include: 1) Repairing the existing well, 2)
<br />Drilling a new well, 3) Providing water from another source, or 4) Hauling water from Steamboat Springs.
<br />Eastern, Northern, and Western Mining Districts
<br />Tables 9 and 12, Summary of Ground Water Rights, and Summary of Surface Water Rights, respectively, have
<br />been updated to include all known water rights within the Permit and adjacent areas for historic, current, and
<br />planned future mining. The ongoing monitoring work conducted by TCC and Colorado Yampa Coal Company
<br />(refer to Permit C -81 -071) indicates there will be no impacts outside of the permit boundary, therefore, TCC does
<br />not anticipate any additional impacts to the quality or quantity of water in Fish Creek, Foidel Creek, Middle Creek,
<br />and Trout Creek systems.
<br />The only adjudicated water supply systems potentially impacted by mining in the EMD are the Ashley Spring No.
<br />1, Corliss Ditch, and rights owned by TCC (Rausler Well and Energy Fuels Reservoir No. 1). Actual mining did
<br />not result in any adverse impacts to these systems, except for interruption of flows in the Corliss Ditch, due to
<br />subsidence. TCC has included this ditch in its ditch inventory and maintenance schedule, and will evaluate and
<br />complete ditch rehabilitation work, as appropriate, based on this schedule. The only adjudicated water supply
<br />systems potentially impacted by mining in the NMD are the Ashley Spring No. 2, and rights owned by TCC
<br />(Boettler Ditch). The Ashley Spring was not affected by the NMD mining activities. The only adjudicated water
<br />supply systems potentially impacted by mining in the WMD are a series of small stock - watering reservoirs owned
<br />by the Boeddekers and rights owned by TCC (Twentymile Reservoir). Given that the Boeddeker reservoirs are
<br />small surface runoff ponds, and based on TCC's mining experience, it is not anticipated that these water rights will
<br />. be significantly impacted by mining and related operations. In the unlikely event that any of the stock ponds are
<br />advesely impacted, alternatives, including the use of righted water supplies, are available that could be used to
<br />address this impact under the approved Augmentation Plan. Potential alternatives to address any water rights
<br />PR09 -08 2.04 -39 09/15/09
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