Laserfiche WebLink
ENVIRONMENT, INC. PAGE 2 <br />SEPTEMBER 29. 2006 <br />taken to show there no groundwater in the hole. It was then <br />deepened to 7 feet deep with the same result, no groundwater. The <br />attached photos document these findings, therefore one would <br />presume that the water in the pond is not groundwater. Two of <br />the pictures show that the bottom of the hole was not even damp. <br />A groundwater report as prepared by ERO Resources for the mine on <br />May 10, 2006. A copy of this report was in an amendment applica- <br />tion filed with the Division on 09/12/06 (Exhibit G - Water <br />Information). The report shows that the groundwater table in <br />this area is confined to a surface aquifer lying between the <br />surface-and the underlaying shale bedrock. The top of the <br />aquifer is from 55 to 65 feet below the existing ground surface. <br />The report states that in the existing pit approximately 40 to 50 <br />feet of gravel has been removed to the shale bedrock. In addi- <br />tion, ERO noted that there was a limited amount of water in the <br />mine and that most likely was from rain and snowmelt that is <br />perched on the low-permeability shale at the bottom of the pit. <br />They also note that the ground water flow is from east to west <br />along the shale/gravel interface.l~ <br />For the water that flows along this interface to reach the <br />washout pits it would have to sheet flow .on the top of the shale <br />nearly 600 feet from the mine face uphill thru the stockpile <br />area. The permeability of the shale is such that it does not <br />qualify as an aquifer or water containing strata and could <br />contain no groundwater. This is consistent with the observations <br />made in the ERO report where they report that "Precipitation <br />infiltrates these deposits and accumulates on top .of the shale <br />bedrock to a depth of 55-65 feet below the ground surface."?~ <br />In the report ERO says that the gravel gets deeper as one pro- <br />gresses to the east, meaning that the shale bedrock slopes from <br />west to east under the ridge of gravel. Review of the data they <br />supplied confirms that finding. This means that these pits area <br />above the groundwater table to the east. It should also be noted <br />that the proposed floor of the new mining area will not be mined <br />to the shale so it will be well above the aquifer on the eastern <br />parcel to avoid exposing groundwater. <br />In conclusion, the ERO Resources water report lays the basis for <br />why the water in the wash ponds can not be groundwater. The <br /> <br />