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Calculations were performed to estimate industrial uses of surface water by Peabody and <br /> evaporative losses from the six sediment ponds receiving runoff from the mining areas. An <br /> augmentation plan was then developed for augmenting these surface water losses during each <br /> month of the irrigation period and storing water during the winter months (Table 9 in <br /> Attachment 16-1). <br /> Calculations were performed for Tuttle and Calamity Draws and the San Miguel River to <br /> determine if mine discharges would diminish receiving water quality to the extent that <br /> surface water rights would be injured (preclude present or potential uses of the water). <br /> This was determined not to be a significant impact and no mitigation is required. <br /> Finally, specific, additional monitors are proposed as part of the water rights plan to <br /> help insure that the impact and water loss volume projections were reasonable. Five <br /> piezometers are proposed in the immediate vicinity of the Nucla East mining area to help <br /> quantify drawdowns. An additional surface water monitoring site is also proposed to help <br /> measure flow changes in Calamity Draw adjacent to the mining disturbance. <br /> Alternative Water Supplies <br /> Peabody will use the following alternative water sources to mitigate any ground or surface <br /> water right impacts. Peabody has available to them 114.5 acre-feet of surface water, <br /> which is a consumptive use credit associated with Peabody's ownership•of 27 shares of the <br /> Colorado Cooperative Company (CCC). Peabody has an absolute 4 acre-foot storage right for <br /> the 001 reservoir at the Nucla mining area and is projected to have 18 acre-feet of pit <br /> pumpage during the non-irrigation season available to them for use. Peabody also has a <br /> 1.5 acre-foot ground water right associated with the mined out shop well. <br /> It is from these alternative sources of water that the surface water augmentation plan has <br /> been developed. No ground water impacts requiring mitigation are forecast. However, <br /> should a ground water supply be diminished to such an extent that it precludes its use, <br /> Peabody will replace this supply with surface water available to them (only 62.1 of the <br /> 114.5 acre-feet of CCC water is required for the surface water augmentation plan) or will <br /> replace the well. <br /> 16-10 Revised 04/11/88 <br />