Laserfiche WebLink
water sources have low potential to be affected by mining in the Allen and Apache coal seams <br />because of the low vertical hydraulic conductivity of the rocks and limited lateral continuity of water - <br />bearing zones. <br />Two bedrock water supply wells are located in the permit area. Well 39685 is a 220 -ft -deep <br />domestic supply well. The owner of record is Storz O.T. -CF &I Lessee. Well 8 is a 390 -ft -deep <br />industrial supply well owned by New Elk Coal Company. Both wells could be impacted by mining <br />in the Allen and Apache coal seams. Impacts to the wells could include changes in water levels and <br />water quality. <br />Users located near Stonewall primarily rely on shallow wells in the alluvium adjacent to the <br />Middle Fork of the Purgatoire River for domestic water supply. One well (269004) may be <br />completed in bedrock, but it is only 60 feet deep and it is not likely to be affected by mining. <br />A number of residents are located north and northeast of the permit area and use bedrock <br />wells for domestic water supply. Wells 269720 and 264440 are located closest to the permit <br />boundary and have the greatest potential to be impacted by mining. Well 269720 is 60 ft deep, and <br />given its shallow completion, it is unlikely that mining will affect the water level or water quality in <br />the well. Well 264440 is 200 ft deep and is completed in an unidentified coal seam. Well 264440 <br />has a greater potential to be adversely impacted by mining in the Allen and Apache coal seams than <br />Well 269720. <br />Wells 12, 13, and 14 are actually cisterns. These cisterns have been in use for over 65 years. <br />No problems were reported with water quality or quantity during previous mining. The water levels <br />in the cisterns vary slightly with the season. These variations suggest that the cisterns are fed by <br />runoff and infiltration from the Purgatoire River. <br />Wells 15, 16, and 17 were the only wells identified east of the North Fork of the Purgatoire <br />River during previous studies. Well 15 is a cistern that is believed to be spring fed from a <br />northeasterly direction because of the presence of springs to the north in Santistevan Canyon. The <br />water quality is reported to be excellent with no problems in quantity. Well 16 is approximately 60 ft <br />deep. The well produces poor quality water. Chavez (1984) describes the well water as having a <br />terrible odor. It is believed that the well is completed in an upper coal seam and that hydrogen <br />sulfide gas is the source of the bad smell. Well 17 is no longer in use because of the availability of <br />city water. <br />Well 11 is apparently completed in the Purgatory River alluvial aquifer. No problems were <br />reported with the quantity or quality of water from the well during previous mining activities. The <br />well is the water supply source for the Picketwire Lodge. <br />The highland wells (windmills) south of the Purgatoire River are all listed as being owned by <br />the Division of Wildlife. The respective water levels for Wells 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 are reported to be 25, <br />15.5, 46.5, and 7.5 ft but no information is available for when these were measured. The water <br />quality is reported to be similar that of coal seepage and different from surface water quality in <br />streams and stock ponds, suggesting that the windmill water is coming from an upper coal seam. <br />Geologic logs for the highland area show a series of coal seams approximately 100 to 150 ft <br />PR -02 2.04 -24 Revised 8/19/11 <br />