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2.04.7 - HYDROLOGY DESCRIPTION <br />It is anticipated that the King II Mine will have little impact on groundwater systems <br />locally or regionally and its impact on surface hydrology will be low. Operations <br />within the Menefee coal seam are not expected to disrupt aquifers, streams, water <br />systems, or the watershed (up-slope areas of the mine site). Hydrologic data obtained <br />from the existing King II workings, abandoned King I Mine workings, core drill holes <br />in the existing project area, and other research studies predict that the mining <br />operation will have a negligible impact on groundwater of the permit and adjacent <br />area and minor impact to surface water of the area (Appendix 4). <br />GROUNDWATER INFORMATION <br />Exploration drilling and reconnaissance of the permit area have not revealed a <br />significant local or regional groundwater aquifer above or below the coal seam to be <br />mined. The deeply dissected nature of the topography of the permit area and <br />relatively flat and limited extent of the surfaces of the drainage basin upper surfaces <br />limit the aerial extent of any aquifer and the potential for recharge to any aquifer in <br />the area. <br />AQUIFERS <br />The King I Mine and the King II Mine are not in a major groundwater recharge area. <br />Research shows this portion of the San Juan Basin has had very limited ground <br />water development. Most of the wells in the general area have been completed in the <br />unconsolidated alluvial gravels and terrace deposits of the La Plata River and its <br />tributaries (including Hay Gulch), or in consolidated aquifers further south (down - <br />dip) in the basin. Two formations, the Cliff House Sandstone and the Menefee <br />Formation are important and relative to mining operations. These are further <br />discussed below. The underlying Point Lookout Sandstone will not be affected by the <br />mining operations. <br />Cliff House Sandstone <br />This unit comprises the cap rock to the dip slopes of the area. Based on information <br />provided by the Menefee Land Company exploration drilling program for a proposed <br />coal mine bordering the King I Mine, the sandstone is not saturated and is above the <br />potentiometric surface in the immediate project vicinity. No water was encountered <br />in any drill hole during this program at a level above or in the Menefee seams. All <br />wells in this unit were dry in the Cliff House formation. <br />As these wells are located across Hay Gulch, there can be no hydrologic connection <br />between the King II Mine and the Cliff House sandstone in their location. Therefore, <br />no potential for impacts exists. <br />CC Energy, LLC King II Mine <br />Section 2.04.7 <br />Page 1 April 30, 2015 <br />