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somewhat bulky and complex, but two pages of test results per each lift are included as <br />Attachment 1 that shows that the resulting moisture density, compaction and hydraulic <br />conductivity of the backfill easily falls within the required ranges for each test. <br />As part of the requirement for annual reporting at this mine site, groundwater elevations <br />from three groundwater monitoring wells are to be submitted. The requirement is for a <br />minimum of sampling to occur quarterly until dry mining (pumping down of the alluvial <br />water table) comes within 300 ft. of the monitoring well. At that time, no monitoring <br />would be required as the effects of dewatering would artificially lower the groundwater <br />elevation in the monitoring well. After backfilling with shale is complete around the <br />monitoring well, monitoring of the well is to be performed every two months for one <br />year. The effects of the shale backfill can then be ascertained with respect to groundwater <br />mounding upgradient of the shale backfill and groundwater shadowing downgradient of <br />the shale backfill. Two neighbors to the east-southeast of the shale backfill could <br />experience effects of groundwater mounding and flooding of the lowest portions of their <br />homes. OW -1 and OW -2 monitoring wells were installed for these residences. One <br />neighbor to the southwest could experience groundwater shadowing affecting an alluvial <br />well on the property. OW -3 was installed for monitoring of this structure. All three <br />monitoring well locations are shown on the annual report map. Attachment 2 is a table of <br />the water level elevations of all three monitoring wells and the date the measurements <br />were taken. <br />OW -1 was initially measured on 11-5-14 just prior to mine dewatering being <br />implemented (pumping) at about 300 ft. from the well. The groundwater elevation in the <br />well coincided perfectly with the predicted natural groundwater at this elevation of <br />4938.3 ft. The groundwater elevation in the well on this date measured in at an elevation <br />of 4937.8 ft. It actually came up in elevation slightly two days later and then began to <br />drop rapidly as the effects of mine dewatering reached the well. <br />The static water level in OW -2 for the natural elevation of groundwater at this location <br />appears to be higher than the predicted elevation. The natural groundwater elevation on <br />11-5-14 was at 4946.2 ft., but the predicted water elevation at this well was set at 4944.96 <br />ft., about one -foot lower. The maximum not -to -exceed elevation of this well after <br />backfilling was therefore set at 4947 ft. This will have to be watched closely until mining <br />reaches this location. Fortunately, the neighbor's lowest floor elevation appears to be <br />fully 7 ft. above the current highest groundwater elevation allowed after backfilling (4947 <br />ft.). <br />Groundwater elevations at OW -3 are too preliminary to make any observations. <br />Approximately 1.0 acre may be mined during the next reporting year to the south of the <br />area of current mining. <br />A map is attached to this report showing the areas and acreages described above. <br />