2012-02-28_REVISION - M1980244 (104)

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• The proposed MLE2 development will not increase the long -term regional ground water flow rate or the flow rate from the regional water table observed at the Carlton Tunnel portal • All precipitation water infiltrating to ground water through MLE2 mine facilities (mine areas, mine backfill, overburden storage areas, and reclaimed disturbed land) will pass by subsurface flow paths through the diatreme to the regional ground water table and eventually flow to Fourmile Creek via the Carlton Tunnel portal • Any products of sulfide oxidation in overburden mined, in -place rock exposed, or land disturbed as a result of MLE2 will be naturally neutralized along the subsurface flow paths in the diatreme, limiting transport of metals and other constituents to levels that are within the permitted limits for regional ground water flow from the Carlton Tunnel portal. The naturally available calcium carbonate in the diatreme along the flow pathway for infiltrated water from MLE2 facilities is more than 500 times the mass required to neutralize the products of oxidation of all of the sulfide minerals exposed by the proposed MLE2 • There will be no deleterious change in any saturated ground water or surface water chemistry as a result of MLE2 The information derived from the ground water hydrology and geochemistry investigations and evaluation was considered during development of the mining and reclamation plans for MLE2. The design requirement was that there would be no potential impact or change in the saturated ground water or surface water chemistry as a result of MLE2. 4.6 Hydrology The following discussion of surface water and ground water hydrology is a summary of the more detailed information contained in Appendix 2, Hydrologic Evaluation, Volume II. 4.6.1. Surface Water Regionally, surface water flows from the Cresson Project area are tributary to the Upper Arkansas River Basin. On the south side, surface water would flow into Theresa Gulch and Bateman Creek which are tributaries to Wilson Creek, that then flows into Fourmile Creek which ultimately flow into the Upper Arkansas River Basin. On the west side, surface water would flow into Poverty Gulch, Squaw Gulch, and Arequa Gulch, all tributaries to Cripple Creek, which also flows into Four Mile Creek. On the north side, surface water would flow into Grassy Valley, a tributary to Beaver Creek. Drawing G -1 shows the surface water system including a two -mile radius around the Cresson Project permit boundary. Each of the drainages is discussed separately below. Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company Cresson Project Mine Life Extension 2 4 -8