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2 Introduction <br />4 <br />1.2 Project description <br />The plan for the proposed Collom Mine is still under development. In the spring of 2005 <br />when this hydrogeologic assessment was prepared, mining was planned in four phases; <br />the first two of which are indicated on Figure 1.2. Mining would then have proceeded to <br />the northwest and southeast "wings" in Phases 3 and 4, respectively. An initial box cut <br />was planned at the down -dip or northern edge of Phase 1. Mining was expected to <br />proceed up dip (to the south) using either a combination of truck shovel and dragline or <br />just truck shovel. Material from the initial box cut was to be placed as valley fill in Little <br />Collom Gulch to the north of the pit. The exact footprint of this valley fill has not been <br />determined. This original north to south mining sequence is referred to as the Option 1 <br />mine plan in this report. <br />In the summer of the 2005, an alternative mine plan was developed for KEC that <br />included simultaneous mining of Phases 1 and 2, starting on the south side and moving <br />north. This alternative south to north mining sequence is referred to as the Option 2 <br />mine plan. <br />The approximate footprint of the mine pit is shown on Figure 1.2 and is referred to as the <br />"Collom Mine" in this document. The general area around the mine that was evaluated <br />to establish baseline hydrogeologic conditions is the "Collom study area ", which extends <br />from Wilson Creek on the east, Moffat. County Road 51 on the north, Straight Gulch to <br />the west, and the Danforth Hills to the south. <br />1.3 Physical setting <br />1.3.1 Land use <br />Land in the Collom area which may be affected by the proposed operation is <br />administered by CCM, KEC, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the State of <br />Colorado (Figure 1.2). The dominant land use is rangeland for grazing of cattle and <br />sheep. Various wildlife species are present, including deer, elk, sage grouse, non -game <br />birds, raptors, etc. In addition to rangeland, the general area has been used for <br />underground and surface coal mining. Areas to be affected by the proposed operation <br />do not contain any previous mining activity. <br />1.3.2 Climate <br />The climate in the vicinity of the Colowyo Mine and Collom study area is characterized <br />as semiarid. Climate stations in Meeker and Craig, as well as the Colowyo Mine indicate <br />that precipitation averages 14 to 17 inches per year. Monthly average temperatures <br />normally range from 22 °F in January and 67 °F in July. Winds are typically 8 to 9 mph <br />from the southwest, with occasional storms that cause sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph. <br />2572 -R2 Colowyo Coal Company <br />Water Management Consultants <br />