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' (P~3e 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-99-034 <br />INSPECTION DATE 12/04/00 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ESC <br />This was an inspection of the Cooley Reservoir & Fulton Wildlife Area conducted by Erica <br />Crosby of the Division of Minerals & Geology. Jamie Gaboriau and Tom Maul of CAMAS Colorado, <br />Inc. were present during the inspection. In addition, John Woodside and Joe Woodrick were <br />present on behalf of Dorothy Ford who was unable to attend the inspection. <br />The inspection was a result of a citizen complaint letter submitted by Dorothy Ford and <br />received by the Division on November 13, 2000. The letter states that activities at the mine <br />resulted in the collapse of her well. Specifically, the temporary lowering and the permanent <br />raising of the shallow water level caused the well to cave in. The letter states that the <br />depth of the well is 400 feet and was cased down to 35 feet. The collapse of the well was <br />concurrent with the construction of the slurry wall on the southeast corner of 104`" Ave. and <br />McKay Road. <br />The Division inspected the location of the well on Dorothy Ford's property. The well is <br />encased in a large concrete structure below ground (appx. 36" diameter). According to Joe <br />Woodrick, who was present during the incident, the collapse of the well occurred during <br />construction of the slurry wall. Mr. Woodrick believes that the vibration from the equipment <br />caused the well to collapse in the shale layer at a depth of approximately 60 feet. Prior <br />to the collapse, Mr. Woodrick stated that the well was producing at a rate of 5-6 gallons per <br />minute. <br />The Division reviewed the information in the permit application titled, Colorado Wells, <br />Aoolications and Permits supplied by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. The Division <br />noted two permit numbers under the listing of Ford; 27319F and 27320F in the NENW Sec 17, <br />T2S, R67W. John Woodside sent a copy of the two well permits on December 5, 2000 noting the <br />prescribed use as irrigation. It was stated during the inspection that the well is used for <br />domestic water. It remains unclear to the Division if the permits sent to the Division are <br />for the well in question. It appears that at least two wells on the property are permitted <br />by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Since it was stated during that two wells are <br />located on the Ford property, the Division will presume that one of the well permits cover <br />the well in question. If this is not the case, the operator will need to submit <br />documentation to the Division stating otherwise. <br />During the inspection, the operator supplied the Division with monitoring data from wells <br />sampled monthly. From February 2000 to September 2000 the depth to groundwater ranged from <br />10 feet to 12.5 feet below the ground surface. During the months of October and November, <br />groundwater depth was recorded at 8 feet below the ground surface. This indicates a rise of <br />approximately 2 feet of the groundwater elevation. This is consistent with the predictions <br />noted in the permit application. The Division does not believe that the variation in the <br />alluvial groundwater level a to 12 feet below the surface caused the well to collapse at a <br />depth of 60 feet. <br />As stated above, Mr. Woodrick believes that the vibration from the equipment used to <br />construct the slurry wall may have caused the well to collapse. The distance from the well <br />to the slurry wall is approximately 250 feet. Since the Division was not present on site <br />during the construction of the slurry wall, it is impossible to determine if the activity <br />caused the well to collapse. Therefore, the operator has the following options; <br />1. Provide the Division a description of the site activity during construction of the <br />slurry wall and describe how the activities have or have not resulted in hydrologic <br />impacts to Dorothy Ford's well. In addition, please provide the status of the Office <br />of the State Engineer letter to the Division dated May 17, 1999 regarding wells within <br />