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FINDINGS <br /> Mid Continental Resources, Inc. <br /> Coal Basin Mine <br /> Application for Mining and Reclamation Plan (MRP) <br /> I. The State of Colorado and the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) have <br /> determined that the MRP submitted on February 5, 1981 and updated <br /> through March 28, 1983 and the permit with conditions are accurate <br /> and complete and comply with the requirements of the approved <br /> Colorado State Program, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation <br /> Act (SMCRA), and the Federal Lands Program including the Mineral <br /> Leasing Act. [2.07.6(2)(a), 786.19(a)] <br /> II. The State of Colorado has prepared the Technical Analysis (TA). OSM <br /> has prepared the Environmental Assessment (EA), independently <br /> reviewed the TA, and incorporated documents and based on this has <br /> made the following findings: <br /> 1. The applicant proposes acceptable practices for the reclamation <br /> of disturbed lands. These practices have been shown to be <br /> effective in the short-term; there are no long-term reclamation <br /> records utilizing native species in the Western United States. <br /> Nevertheless, the Colorado staff has determined that <br /> reclamation, as required by the Act, can be feasibly <br /> accomplished under the MRP (see page 63, Section XXV of CMLRD's <br /> Decision Document) [2.07.6(2)(b), 786.19(b)] . <br /> 2. The probable cumulative hydrologic impact assessment (PCHIA) of <br /> all existing and anticipated mining by surface coal mines in the <br /> general area indicates that little or no negative impacts will <br /> occur to the groundwater in the region (see page 26-43 of <br /> CMLRD's decision document). <br /> CMLRD presents a detailed PCHIA on pages 26-43 in which the <br /> active Sunlight, Coal Basin, and North Thompson mines within the <br /> drainage basin for the Roaring Fork River Valley are discussed. <br /> Summarizing some of CMLRD's assessments are: <br /> In light of the observation noted in the <br /> discussion in the TA, a range of subsidence <br /> impact scenarios are possible. Subsidence <br /> related cracking could increase surface and <br /> overburden infiltration rates, diverting water <br /> from streams and impoundments above the affected <br /> areas. Related changes in local piezometric <br /> surfaces could result in the modification of <br /> springs and seeps in and adjacent to the permit <br /> area. Waters, having entered the sub-surface <br /> strata, could migrate towards the underground <br /> workings, eventually permeating the strata and <br /> gradually migrating downdip to the axis of the <br /> Piceance Basin. <br /> None of the three mines will affect the use of <br /> ground water from bedrock aquifers either <br />