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- ~ -2- <br />Aquifers in the area include the Trinidad Sandstone, the Raton Formation, <br />and the Poison Canyon Formation (see Drawing No. 11-1 of the Newlin Creek <br />mining application). Because of the geologic structure, and the resultant <br />erosion, neither the Raton or the Poison Canyon Formations exist above <br />any of the mine workings or in any overburden. The Trinidad Sandstone <br />occurs about 300-400 feet below any mine workings. No information is <br />available regarding the water quality or piezometric surfaces of any of <br />these aquifers. Many of the strata within the Veremejo Formation are <br />also water-bearing, but generally yield insufficient quantities of water <br />to be labeled regional aquifers. Isolated sandstones within the formation <br />may serve as aquifers in limited instances, but none are known to be <br />aerially extensive. No significant alluvial aquifer is known to exist <br />within the area. <br />Post-mining activities have greatly affected ground water occurrence in <br />the Veremejo Formation. The original piezometric surface has been <br />artificially lowered by previous mine-dewatering practices. Drawing <br />204.7B of the Newlin..Creek mining application shows the existing piezometric <br />surface. Most of the current mine workings exist above this piezometric <br />surface as a result of the past mine-dewatering. Available data indicate <br />that the quality of water in the Veremejo Formation is too saline for <br />domestic use. This is probably at least partially a 'result of contact. <br />with the leachates from old, unreclaimed spoils and waste piles. No pre- <br />mining baseline hydrologic data was ever collected by the past operators. <br />As a result, it is nearly impossible to assess the pre-mining hydrologic <br />environment and the magnitude of the impact that has been imposed on it. <br />As stated earlier, all the operations mine coal from the middle portion <br />of the Veremejo Formation. However, each mine uses different terminology <br />for the individual coal seams. Therefore, it is difficult to correlate <br />the strata between the mines. The stratigraphic nomenclature used in <br />Figure 2 of the Dorchester mining application will be used to discuss the <br />coal stratigraphy~ <br />