1986-12-11_PERMIT FILE - C1981017

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-14- V. Surface Water H drolo - Rules 2.04.5, 2.04.7, 2.05.3 4 2.05.6 3 and 4.05 Information on surface water hydrology reviewed for compliance by the Division can be found in Chapter II , Volume 2; Chapter III-C, Volume 4, and Chapter III-E, Volume 5; Permit Revision No. 1 ; and surface and ground water monitoring reports and NPOES records on file with the Division (C-017-81 ) . The Coal Basin mines are located on the divide that separates the North Fork of the Gunnison watershed from the Crystal River watershed. Drainage from the east side of Huntsman Ridge flows east in Coal Creek to the Crystal River, then north where the Crystal River joins the Roaring Fork River near Carbondale, approximately 17 miles north of Coal Basin. The Roaring Fork then flows northwest to the confluence with the Colorado River at Glenwood Springs. The drainage on the west side of Huntsman Ridge consists of a number of small tributaries flowing to the west and south which, in turn, flow into the Clear Fork and East Muddy Creek. East Muddy Creek flows west into the confluence with the North Fork, which flows west to the confluence with the Gunnison River. The Gunnison river joins the Colorado River in Grand Junction, approximately 70 miles west of the Coal Basin facilities. The headwaters of Muddy Creek will be undermined by Mid-Continent. The underground workings at that point will be over 2,000 feet below the ground surface. Subsidence impacts are projected to be small, therefore, no surface water monitoring is required for this area. In addition, most of the small tributaries are ephemeral, running only during snowmelt and during precipitation events. The primary stream in Coal Basin is Coal Creek, a perennial stream, which is tributary to the Crystal River. This stream drains an area of approximately 26.6 square miles. The streams tributary to Coal Creek whose upper drainages originate in the mine lease area are, in clockwise direction around the basin starting from the lower end, Bear Creek, South Fork Dutch Creek, North Fork Dutch Creek, Oilwell Creek, Coal Creek, Porcupine Creek and Spring Creek. These streams are ephemeral to intermittent in their headwaters above the mine workings and become perennial down gradient near the surface facilities and plant sites. Surface runoff from disturbed areas will be routed through sediment ponds. Twenty-one sediment ponds have been constructed at the Coal Basin mines. Four ponds are planned to be constructed for Mine No. 4, two ponds are planned to be constructed on the two-year coal processing waste disposal area one pond will be constructed at Mine No. 3, two ponds will be constructed at Mine No. 2, and pond will be constructed at the preparation plant, and one pond will be enlarged and another pond will be expanded at the bus garage area.