Laserfiche WebLink
. 3' <br />September ]0, 1980: A letter was received from Stephen Tivy of <br />Empire Energy. In t)~is letter Stephen Tivy states that Empire <br />Energy has not obtained surface access to date, and proposed <br />the installation of two additional monitoring wells in the <br />middle sandstone. These two additional wells along with the <br />existing monitoring well, TR-4, would then be used to monitor the <br />middle sandstone. The Trout Creek sandstone (the first.regional <br />aquifer .below the lowest coal seam to be mined) will be <br />monitored using the existing trout creek wells TC-1 and <br />TC-1. Mining in the 5 year plan will be conducted in the <br />F and P seams. <br />September 26, 1980: Jim Pendleton, Jerry Zimpfer and I <br />visited the Empire Energy Mine site near Craig. Steve <br />Self gave us a guided tour of the mine site. We were <br />shown the locations of the proposed monitoring wells. At <br />that time I expressed the opinion to Steve Self t1~at the <br />proposed ground water monitoring would provide some of the <br />information required under the Colorado Permenant Program. <br />Nowever, I stated to Steve Self that in order to assess if <br />these wells will provide sufficient ground water monitoring <br />information, I would have to review the Empire Energy's <br />permit again. <br />Review of the Amended Ground Hater Monitoring Plan <br />After completion of the review of the hydrology, geoloyy, and mine plan sections <br />of the Empire Energy permit, and the amended ground water monitoring plan, the <br />following inadequacies were found in the proposed ground water monitoring plan. <br />Five aquifers are mentioned in the permit application, the Yampa River Alluvium, <br />the Williams Fork Alluvium, the "Middle" Sandstone, the Twenty-Ffile Sandstone, and <br />the..Trout Creek Sandstone. Only one of the aquifers, the Williams Fork Alluvium <br />has adequate monitoring well located in the aquifer to assess the baseline <br />hydrology and the effects of mining on the hydrologic balance of this aquifer. <br />Empire Energy proposed monitoring or using the data from a Yampa River alluvial <br />well owned by Utah International. Representatives of Empire Energy have <br />continually insisted that they need not monitor the alluvial ground water quality <br />and quantity in the Yamps River Valley because they are going to be grandfathered <br />from Alluvial Valley Floor requirement. <br />The Twenty-Mile Sandstone has no ground water monitoring wells at present and <br />the amended ground water monitoring plan proposes no monitoring wells in this <br />aquifer. <br />The amended ground water monitoring plan proposes [he installation of two addi- <br />tional monitoring wells TR-1 and TR-7, which along with TR-4 are to monitor the <br />"Middle" sandstone the first aquifer over the number S mine in the F-seam. These <br />wells are located such that no wells are located above old mine workings or over <br />areas to be mined during this S-year mine plan. These wells are also located <br />down dip of the areas in the number S mine which will be mined. These wells are <br />not sufficient to prepare piezometric maps needed to assess the effects of mining, <br />(i.e. subsidence), on quantity of water in this aquifer, or the existing <br />hydrogeology of this aquifer. <br />