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Whirlwind Mine Groundwater Characterization Report <br /> sample BM00-1, Willow Spring, and Lumsden Spring. Water sources that have concentrations <br /> of regulated constituents that exceed state regulatory groundwater standards include the Brushy <br /> Basin sources. <br /> As described in Section 7.0 a limited groundwater system with aerial recharge primarily on <br /> Beaver Mesa to the west of the Whirlwind Mine and historical mine sites. Recharge is likely <br /> proportional to the physical exposure of each hydrostratigraphic unit and slope angle. Recharge <br /> is likely less than 10 percent of annual precipitation. Groundwater that accumulates in the <br /> hydrostratigraphic units flows down stratigraphic dip to the northeast. Discharge of groundwater <br /> occurs at natural springs, subflow into Quaternary landslide deposits, evapotranspiration, and <br /> past discharge from free-draining mines. Groundwater conditions in the mine area do not attain <br /> adequate head, nor have sufficient transmissivity on a broad scale, to contribute flow to area <br /> drainages. <br /> Key issues and concerns raised by DRMS and BLM were addressed in Section 8.0 and are <br /> summarized as follows: <br /> • Packrat Mine and PR Spring <br /> Past investigations by Umetco have proposed that there is likely no hydraulic <br /> communication from the Packrat Mine to PR Spring. This report found that the <br /> conclusions made by Umetco are not definitive. While the water chemistry of both <br /> sources is similar, there is no evidence to suggest that the two features are hydraulically <br /> connected. <br /> • Potential impact of mining on groundwater <br /> No direct impact from mining is expected to affect upgradient water sources of the Burro <br /> Canyon and Brushy Basin aquifers as detailed in Section 8.1. Past exploration and <br /> mining may have affected groundwater quantity from these upgradient sources by <br /> groundwater leakage through improperly abandoned drill holes. These sources may <br /> have been locally depleted because of this leakage. Similarly, mining proposed by EFR <br /> should not affect upgradient groundwater quantity, beyond what is allowed under an <br /> existing water right. EFR has proposed to seal flow from vent shafts and drill hole <br /> intercepts that are leaking water into the Whirlwind and Packrat mine workings. <br /> Western Water& Land, Inc. 62 <br />