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STATE OF COlORA00 FiC HPaD D. ~M. Gnvc mop III IIIIIIIIIIIII III DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Harris D. Sherman. Executive Director ggg MINED LAND RECLAMATION 723 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman S[reet Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. (303) 839-3567 Hamlet J. Barry, I I I, Director January 18, 1982 TO: Dan Mathews FROM: Roy L. Cox ,~ 1 SUBJECT: Technical Adequacy Review of the Grand Mesa Coal Company, Red Canyon No. 1 and No. 2 Mines Permit Application and Responses, File No. C-034-81 I have completed the technical adequacy review you requested on the ground- water, water quality, monitoring and geology sections of the Red Canyon No. 1 a and No. 2 mines. Permit Application and Responses to preliminary adequacy questions. During this review, several serious concerns were identified. Among the identified concerns are: 1) The on and off-site impacts of mining activities on surface and groundwater rights; 2) The impacts of mining on surface and groundwater supplies to an alluvial valley floor (AVF); and 3) The impacts of mining on renewable resource lands (e.g., aquifers, areas fo:~ recharge to aquifers, areas for agricultural production of food, and pasture lands). These concerns arise from the sensitivity of the lands to be under- mined to changes in the quality and quantity of ground and surface waters. These concerns are not adequately dealt with within the hydrology sections of the permit application, since they are not supported by enough site-specific data. Also maps contained within the geology and hydrology sections lack legible contour lines, stream channels, and lack critical information such as springs, irrigation systems, some monitoring well locations and drainage system boundaries. Written findings have to be made by the Division before issuing a permit. These findings can not be made at this time given the information presented in the permit application and the information available to the Division. The following findings can not be made: 1) The applicant has provided to the Division adequate hydrologic information to make an environmental assessment (Rule 2.07.6(2)(a)); 2) The applicant's proposed mining operation is designed to prevent damage to the hydrologic balance outside the proposed permit area (Rule 2.07.6(2)(c)); 3) The applicant's proposed operation will not interrupt, discontinue or preclude farming upon alluvial valley floors (Rule 2.07.6(2)(k)); and 4) The applicant has identified the extent to which the proposed mining activities may proximately result in contamination, diminution or interruption of an under- ground or surface source of water within the proposed permit and adjacent areas for all legitimate beneficial use. If water rights will be impacted, the appli- cant will provide an alternative water supply. T.he Red Canyon No. 1 mine in the E-Seam and the proposed No. 2 mine in the I)-Seam, will undermine a major aquifer in the area, the "Glacial-Alluvial Aquifer". This aquifer is composed of over 250' of coarse grained unconsolidated deposits, and