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Water leaking out of caved areas is routed to the sumps at the end of gateroads. A new <br />dewatering system was installed in May 2012 to pump excess water captured <br />underground to the surface for treatment, re- infiltration, and potentially discharge. Prior to <br />this installation no underground water had been pumped out of the mine since the <br />January 31, 1996 underground fire. During this interim, excess water was pumped from <br />the B -seam to the abandoned D -seam for storage. <br />2.2.1.4 Bedrock Water Quality Water sampling and analysis are no longer required <br />from most of the bedrock monitoring holes. However, as required by DRMS, prior to <br />entering Federal leases C -8424 and C -8425, one water quality sample was collected and <br />analyzed from each of the monitoring holes in federal leases C -8424 and C -8425. Such <br />sampling was limited to the middle (coal facie) zone. <br />BME has agreed to sample the point of compliance monitoring well on an annual basis <br />starting with the 2006 -2007 hydrologic year. The point of compliance in 2007 -2008 was <br />monitoring well 29-4M. Starting in 2008 -2009 the point of compliance was changed to <br />monitoring well 22 -3M. Samples are analyzed for dissolved iron and manganese and <br />total dissolved solids. Field parameters measured are pH, conductivity, and temperature. <br />Results for this well are found in Appendix C. <br />The Deserado Mine First Annual Hydrology Report (December 1985) contains baseline <br />water quality data for the bedrock zones except for wells in federal leases C -8424 and C- <br />8425. Baseline water quality data for these wells are given in the Thirteenth Annual <br />Hydrology Report (January 1998). Water quality data for 32 -7M was collected in 2001 <br />prior to mining it out and is included in Appendix C of the Seventeenth Annual Hydrology <br />Report (January 2002). Comparing the 2001 data to the 1997 data indicated only slight <br />changes with a general improvement in quality for most parameters of 32 -7M. <br />Water quality data for 30 -8M was collected in December of 2006 prior to longwall mining <br />of adjacent areas. Comparing the 2006 data to the 1997 data indicates a general <br />improvement in water quality. <br />Water quality data for 29-4M was collected in September of 2012 prior to longwall mining <br />early in 2013. Comparing the 2012 data to the 1997 data indicates a general <br />improvement in water quality. <br />2.2.1.5 Mine Water Balance Table 2 -2 shows the water balance for the Deserado Mine. <br />No water was pumped from underground workings between January 1996 and May of <br />2012. Pumping of excess mine water to the surface recommenced in May 2012. <br />9 <br />