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Typically,the quality of Wadge seam water varies from place to place. Generally, <br /> sulfate,manganese and total dissolved solids exceed both U.S.EPA and National <br /> Academy of Sciences recommended drinking water criteria. These criteria are discussed <br /> in Volume 3, Tab 7,Tables 7-20 and 7-43 of the permit application. Although unsuitable <br /> as a drinking supply, these waters may be used for livestock watering. These waters <br /> also pose a high salinity hazard to intolerant plants, and therefore may be unsuitable for <br /> irrigation. Ground water levels are increasing with occasional excursions of the 0.2 mg/1 <br /> manganese standard,and remain in the historical range. <br /> Sage Creek Alluvium and Sage Creek Overburden <br /> One well is monitored in the alluvium. This well exhibits an increasing groundwater level <br /> trend with decreasing TDS. One well is monitored in the overburden. The overburden well <br /> shows an increasing ground water level, and no statistically significant TDS trend. <br /> Sage Creek Coal <br /> Mining of the Sage Creek seam began in September 2003 in the south extension area. <br /> Initial samples displayed a Na-HCO3SO4 type water, with TDS values of 770 and 1190 <br /> mg/l. One well is monitored in the Sage Creek Coal. This well exhibits a decreasing <br /> groundwater level trend with increasing TDS in excess of the historical range. <br /> Wolf Creek Overburden/Underburden <br /> Two wells WWCOV25 and WWCU25 overburden and underburden respectively,drilled <br /> as replacement wells in the summer of 2004 monitor the strata. The overburden <br /> groundwater well indicates a decreasing level and water quality remains within the CDPHE <br /> agricultural use standard with the exception of an exceedance of the manganese 0.2 mg/L <br /> standard. This exceedance may be due to a combination of naturally occurring alluvial <br /> geochemistry and recharge from the spoil aquifer. In soils with higher pH, as those at the <br /> Seneca IIW site a more appropriate standard would be 10 mg/L. TDS exceeded the <br /> historical range. <br /> The underburden groundwater level is within the decreasing historical range. Water quality <br /> remains within the CDPHE agricultural use standard with the exception of occasional pH <br /> exceedances. <br /> Wolf Creek Coal <br /> The lowest coal in the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesaverde Group is the Wolf Creek <br /> seam. Depth to water and water quality measurements have been made at three sites in and <br /> adjacent to the original permit area. Water levels in the Wolf Creek at all three sites <br /> exhibit confined conditions. Dependent upon proximity to the outcrop recharge area and <br /> local structure, each well has varying amounts of head. Ground water flows from the <br /> recharge area to the center of the basin. Therefore, the major component of flow appears <br /> to be toward the west. <br /> Aquifer tests performed on the two updip wells during the summer of 1980 indicated <br /> that the Wolf Creek is a well confined aquifer transmitting a limited quantity of water. <br /> The quality of Wolf Creek coal water is slightly acidic, very hard and saline. Based on <br /> data presented,the water type changes from calcium/sulfate to sodium/bicarbonate down- <br /> gradient. Annual Hydrologic Report data indicates that sulfate is being precipitated from <br /> the water as it moves down gradient. <br /> Two wells monitor the Wolf Creek Coal. Groundwater levels exceeded the historical range <br /> at one well as increasing and were within the historical range as decreasing in the second <br /> Page 20 of 37 <br />