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COLORADO <br /> Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br /> Denver, CO 80203 <br /> March 3,2022 <br /> New Elk Coal Company,LLC <br /> Atlas:Mark Gray <br /> 12250 Highway 12 <br /> Weston,CO 81091 <br /> RE: Lorencito Canyon Mine, C-1996-084,Proposed Hydrology Monitoring Plan <br /> Dear Mr. Gray, <br /> The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS or Division) received a proposed hydrology <br /> monitoring plan from New Elk Coal Company, LLC (NECC)for the Lorencito Canyon Mine through the Division's <br /> ePermitting system on February 4,2022. Division staff has reviewed the proposed plan and has the following points <br /> of consideration regarding the proposal: <br /> 1. The introduction to the monitoring plan states: <br /> "Since 1996, analyses have been performed at the Lorencito Canyon Mine Project area to interpret the <br /> hydrology of the area. Lorencito will rely on this historic data base as the baseline conditions for the Project <br /> area. Field work accomplished during the baseline and surface mining phases of the Project have included <br /> the installation and testing of 10 alluvial wells, 16 consolidated aquifer wells, along with the monitoring of <br /> springs and seeps,ponds, and windmills in the Project area. From the field data collected, insight has been <br /> gained into the recharge and discharge characteristics of aquifers, hydraulic properties,potentiometric and <br /> water table surfaces, and water quality for each of the hydrologic units. Based on these previous studies, both <br /> conceptual and mathematical hydrologic models have been developed to show the relationships between the <br /> various units. " <br /> Is this information;including potentiometric surfaces,hydrologic models,etc. available to the Division to <br /> review? <br /> 2. MW-5 is listed as the upgradient groundwater wells for the P1/P2 mine areas. The rational for this <br /> location is unclear. From the data provided and location on the map this does not appear to be an ideal <br /> location to represent upgradient conditions. This well appears to be within the mine workings. <br /> 3. The anticipated screening intervals for each of the nests of bedrock wells should be provided. <br /> 4. Table 1 lists the Surface and Groundwater Monitoring Stations. The purpose column within this table <br /> should be reviewed by the operator for accuracy. For example;WMLPC-I,WMLPC-2,and WMCC-1 <br /> are all listed to be upgradient monitoring points in Little Pine Canyon,which does not appear accurate <br /> from the map provided. <br /> o� C°lo <br /> �w= <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866.3567 F 303.832.8106 https://drms.colorado.gov/ ��' •, <br /> Jared Polis, Governor I Dan Gibbs, Executive Director I Virginia Brannon, Director I <br />