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Alluvial Groundwater <br />Activities at the Mine have the potential to impact alluvial groundwater in those areas of Taylor <br />Creek, Wilson Creek, and Good Spring Creek that are hydrologically down - gradient of mining <br />activity. Sources of impact include discharges of runoff from surface disturbed areas, discharges <br />or seepage from backfill and excess spoil areas, and from surface and subsurface flows from the <br />coal stockpiles at the Gossard Loadout. <br />The findings by the Division, for alluvial groundwater as described above, is substantiated by the <br />information in the application. In the PAP, Colowyo indicates that the alluvial aquifer associated <br />with Good Spring Creek has a high transmissivity and is unconfined. Possible impacts to this <br />aquifer would be associated with the infiltration of water from the pit and water quality <br />deviations caused by infiltration of runoff water. Colowyo further states that "meteoric water <br />infiltrating into the reclaimed pit should enter the bedrock aquifer and eventually contribute to <br />seeps and springs tributary to Good Spring Creek and possibly Taylor Creek." These statements <br />are consistent with Division findings. Therefore the Division concludes that the Mine has the <br />potential to negatively impact alluvial groundwater. <br />Based on the review of the groundwater at the Mine, Stipulation 7 was added to the permit as a <br />part of the Permit Revision 02 review process. It states that Colowyo shall provide an analysis of <br />groundwater points of compliance at the Colowyo Mine pursuant to Rule 4.05.13(1). This <br />analysis will be done in consultation with the Division and will include a written determination <br />of the need for groundwater points of compliance at the mine. If deemed appropriate, based on <br />this analysis, Colowyo shall establish one or more points of compliance for the Mine. <br />IV. Topsoil - Rules 2.04.9, 2.053(s), 2.05.4(2)(d) and 4.06 <br />The Permit has been found to be in compliance with Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(s), 2.05.4(2)(d) and <br />4.06 with regard to the protection of topsoil resources. The Division has approved alternative <br />procedures for topsoil protection following removal based on a demonstration that such <br />alternative procedures will provide more protection for the topsoil (Rule 4.06.1(2)). <br />A. The Soil Resource <br />A summary of the soil resource is found in the Description of the Environment section of this <br />document. Detailed information is presented in Section 2.04.9 and Exhibit 9 of the original PAP <br />volumes for the original permit area, while detailed soil description information for the South <br />Taylor and Lower Wilson expansion areas is contained in Section 2.04.9 of Volume 12 and <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance January 2012 <br />Permit Renewal 06 Page 139 <br />