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empty. The water flowed into the bailer slowly so a sample of the water from the bottom of the <br />well was obtained. It was not possible to purge wells H-10 and B-6 because they were connected <br />to the flooded mine workings. With the exception of 2009, recently H-10 well has been dry <br />resulting in no samples being obtained. Because of mine development activities in the Bear <br />Creek drainage during 2004, B-6 was sealed. <br />Typically, water samples from groundwater wells are obtained with a bailer after the wells have <br />been bailed to remove the equivalent of at least one volume of water from the wells. Because of <br />regional drought conditions a number of wells often experience lowered water levels and <br />reduced inflows. Some wells simply continue to monitor limited water containing zones. In such <br />cases, water levels may often be obtained but water samples are not available. Often, limited <br />volumes of water are obtained with the bailer and some samples may contain sediment moved <br />from the "disturbed" bottom of the well. <br />Pre 2010, SGS (formerly Commercial Testing & Engineering Co.) of Denver, Colorado, <br />completed the laboratory analyses of the water samples. Post 2010, Enviro Chem Analytical, <br />Inc. of Grand Junction, Colorado completed the laboratory analysis. <br />These analyses are summarized on the tables and graphs found in this report. The original copies <br />of the laboratory analytical results are stored in the OMLLC offices and available for inspection <br />by CDRMS during complete quarterly inspections. Copies of the specific laboratory reports are <br />also available upon request. <br />2013 was the year where the mine was sealed in January because of a spontaneous combustion <br />event in the longwall gob. Attempts to recover the mining equipment were thwarted in <br />September 2013 when the mine was reopened and the spontaneous combustion later re -ignited. <br />The portion of the mine containing the longwall was resealed and mine was temporarily idled on <br />December 5, 2013. In December of 2015, the portals to the Elk Creek Mine were sealed and <br />backfilled. The shafts were backfilled and capped. From November 2017 to March of 2018, the <br />middle pad of the Elk Creek Mine property was reclaimed and the creek bed was restored in this <br />area. During May 2018 to September 2018, the lower pad, which was used for coal storage and <br />handling, was reclaimed and the creek bed was restored in this area as well. <br />3 <br />