Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />• <br />the north and west sides of the mining complex. The pond fringes are devoid of vegetation but <br />have been determined to be jurisdictional by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they are <br />hydrologically connected to the creek downstream through a series of PVC pipes. Below the <br />mine structures, the creek meanders along a narrow ravine before exiting the property through a <br />Boulder County maintained culvert under the Cross Mine access road. Wetland habitat <br />associated with the downstream reaches is limited to the riparian corridor and to a wet meadow <br />area on the north bank that is situated just east of pond #2 and extends into the adjacent aspen <br />woodland. <br />The primary source of hydrology for wetlands is provided by up -slope runoff and flows from the <br />creek. Flows from the Idaho Tunnel are directed into pond #2 and contribute to wetland <br />hydrology in the lower half of the property. Secondary sources are provided by naturally <br />occurring side slope seeps, snowmelt and precipitation events. <br />Groundwater Resources: <br />The proposed mine and its expansion area are not impacted by designated floodplains, because <br />the site is located very near the headwaters of Coon Track Creek. Mining will be as presented in <br />the original mine permit application. No impacts to ground water due to the proposed site <br />modifications are expected. <br />Groundwater at the site is generally controlled by drainage out of the existing mine adits which <br />report to two ponds for the addition of lime and discharge to Coon Track Creek through a <br />permitted discharge point. (Only the discharge from the Cross Mine workings requires the daily <br />addition of lime to pond #1, dropping out zinc so that discharge standards are met. The untreated <br />Caribou Mine discharge reports only to pond #2 and is acceptable for discharge as is. ) <br />Waste rock analyses previously performed and part of the Division's existing permit file indicate <br />the host rock and ore are non -acid generating. Ground water pH based on three quarters of <br />analysis has been between pH 6.4 and 7.6 in the three baseline ground water monitoring wells. <br />The waste rock analyses and pH of the ground waters sampled at the three baseline monitoring <br />wells indicate the waste rock is benign and there should not be a ground water quality issue. <br />(The three baseline ground water monitoring well locations have been reviewed during an <br />inspection by the Division and have been found acceptable for gathering baseline ground water <br />information. Complete ground and surface water monitoring programs will be submitted as part <br />of a future permit revision.) <br />(d) A wildlife statement prepared by the CDOW if the Operation is a 110(d) <br />Limited Impact Operation: <br />• The proposed modifications will not result in a Designated Mining Operation or significant <br />impacts to wildlife use. Therefore a wildlife statement will not be required. However, Calais <br />Page 23 <br />