2012-09-06_REVISION - M2008070 (25)

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Design and Operations Plan Western Gravel E & P Waste Disposal Facility 2.3.3.8 Vicinity Domestic Wells/Water Supplies October 24, 2011 Page 14 of 51 The White River and associated alluvial aquifer are the principal water sources for the region and provide water used for domestic, commercial, and irrigation needs. The municipalities of Meeker and Rangely use this source as a municipal water supply. Rangely is located approximately 38 miles downstream to the west of the site and Meeker approximately 17 miles upstream and to the east. Several permitted water supply wells are located in the general area of Piceance Creek Road and Highway 64 intersection. Permitted uses include domestic, commercial, gravel pit, and monitoring. Based upon the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resource State Engineer Records (WRER), permitted groundwater wells are not located within a one mile radius of the site. Although WRER lists a permitted well at the proposed landfill site, the listing is associated with a borehole used for geotechnical purposes that are discussed below. A well was not installed in the borehole. The closest permitted domestic water supply well to the site is located approximately 9,700 feet to the northwest and is owned by Bridget Rondell. The 200 foot deep well appears to be screened within Green River Formation. Reported static water level is 50 feet bgs and well production rate 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). The nearest permitted water supply well is located approximately 7,200 feet to the northwest, owned by Dalbo, Inc., and is permitted for commercial use. The approximately 50 foot deep well is reportedly screened in alluvium and bedrock, static water is at approximately 22 feet bgs, and production rate is 5 gpm. The WG and Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (Halliburton) water supply wells are constructed in alluvium. The WG facility well is permitted as a gravel pit well and constructed in a former borrow pit as a water retention pond. The Halliburton water supply well is permitted for commercial use, static water is approximately 10 feet bgs, and well production approximately 28 gpm. Other permitted wells constructed include a groundwater monitoring well and a stock well that was abandoned because of poor water quality. Several wells were permitted but never constructed as planned Permitted well information is provided in Appendix C. 2.3.4 Environmental Impact Assessment Based upon our understanding, an Environmental Analysis of the proposed White River City Gravel Pit Phase 2 (Environmental Solutions, Inc.; March 2009) was required by Rio Blanco County for SUP approval purposes. The assessment was conducted in order to evaluate potential environmental impacts resulting from proposed gravel mining and processing operations. Based upon the Phase 2 SUP application and subsequent Rio Blanco County approval, it appears that the application was approved with several conditions. The landfill facility is being proposed as an alternative and beneficial method of required reclamation of mining areas. Because the facility will be used to dispose E &P solid wastes and PCS and is located in the White River vicinity, engineered systems (e.g. leak detection, leachate collection, waste cover, s urface water control) that exceed CDPHE landfill design requirements will be used to help protect the environment. Because these systems will mainly be constructed within the mine footprint, environmental disturbances exceeding those created from mining activities are considered minimal to non - existent. Existing facility improvements will be used for both mining and reclamation activities. Since transport trucks currently pass WG en -route to E &P waste disposal facilities in Utah, an increase in truck traffic to the WG facility is anticipated to be minimal Based upon communications with Exxon Mobile the expected initial short -term traffic surged would be approximately 15 trucks per day for a two to three week period. However, periodically temporary truck traffic surges occur in response to E&P stockpiled waste that is moved based upon an accelerated schedule. Based upon discussions with Rio Blanco County Road and Bridge Department and Rio Blanco County Landfill (RBCL) personnel, RBCL currently averages NWCC, Inc.