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<br />-2- <br />leakance from the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone (a regional aquifer). <br />The water which had accumulated in the pit was being used for dust sup- <br />pression on site. This was evident from the coal fines in the water <br />being emptied from the water truck and the water being spread by front <br />end loader. This may be in violation of Boater rights, since all pit <br />water is to be pumped to sediment pond 001 for ultimate discharge to <br />Stollsteimer Creek. <br />While walking the stream bed of Stollsteimer Creek east and north of the <br />active pit, several springs and seeps were observed. Seep lines were <br />observed along the down di p.bedrock-alluvial contact. This indicated <br />that there was a perched alluvial aquifer in close proximity to the land <br />surface. The hydropliytes (willows, etc.) growing on the alluvium also <br />suggested the areas east and north of. the active pit is sub irrigated <br />alluvium. <br />The Lower Fruitland Formation, from the A to the <br />high percentage of sandstones. These sandstones <br />are fine grained, and are calcareous. The abili <br />stones to transmit water is low.. If these rocks <br />missiviCy of these rocks can he greatly enhanced <br />and opening bedding planes. <br />Impact of Existing Operations <br />C seams, consists of a <br />are massive to laminated, <br />tv of undisturbed sand- <br />are blasted, the trans- <br />by creating open fractures <br />It is the Division's opinion that Chimney Rock Coal, Martinez Mine is cur- <br />rently impacting the quantity of water both in the alluvium of Stollsteimer <br />Creek and the flow in Stollsteimer Creek. This opinion is based on obser- <br />vations made during the site visit of July 13, 1982 and observations con- <br />tained in inspection reports for the following dates: November 17, 1981; <br />December 16, 1981; January 14, 1982; February 17, 1982; March 2, 1982; <br />April 20, 1982; and htay 11, 1982. Inflows were not encountered until the <br />pit moved to the southwest and to a level below the level of Stollsteimer <br />Creek. Inflows have not stopped suggesting a constant recharge source <br />(Stollsteimer Creek and its alluvium). The impacts which I anticipated <br />on Stollsteimer Creek have been empirically verified by mining of the "B" <br />and "C" seams in the southern end of the active pit. <br />Tl~e two inflows, southeast (upgradient) and southwest (down gradient), will <br />saturate the toe of the spoil fill once the pit is backfilled. The result- <br />ing spoil aquifer may affect the stability properties of the spoil backfill. <br />Shales may slake or expand, and calcareous sandstones may disintegrate as <br />the calcareous (limestone) cement is dissolved. The ground water level <br />established in the spoil aquifer will depend on the aquifer characteristics <br />of the strata in the southeast corner of the pit, and on the quantity and <br />quality of pit. inflows when the final oit is backfilled. <br />The spoil water will leach and chemically react with the rock fragment making <br />up the spoil. The ground water flowing in at the upgradient (southeast) end <br />of the pit will degrade and then discharge out the downgradient (southwest) <br />end of the pit. This spoil water discharge will either be to the alluvial <br /> <br />