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West Elk Mine <br />1~ Prior to 1996, all of this statement was true for the West Elk Mine. Because of fault system inflows <br />encountered in the eastern portion of the mine, MCC now adds: "billows associated with fractures <br />and faults may initially produce inflows of up to 8,000 gpm from more extensive fracture/fault <br />systems, which significantly reduce in inflow rate over time to one thought to be the constant <br />recharge rate." <br />"Generally, springs in the permit area seem to act independently of the bedrock water and <br />appear to be surface features related to weathered and fractured bedrock. Flows from these <br />springs tend to be highly ephemeral and only discharge during spring snowmelt. These springs <br />rechazge and dischazge in relatively small azeas. Inflows from faults and fractures located <br />outside spring valleys generally dry up with time or flow intermittently at discrete points along <br />the fault or fracture." (p. 20-21). <br />Spring data from both the Apache Rocks and Box Canyon permit revision azeas confirm this <br />statement. <br />6. "There aze no immediate demands on groundwater in the vicinity of the West Elk Mine. <br />Domestic water for the mine will be supplied by surface water from the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River." (p. 28). <br />This continues to be the case as of November 1998. Furthermore, given the local hydrogeology, <br />and with the exception of the alluvial aquifers along the North Fork and Minnesota Creek <br />(including the Dry Fork), groundwater could not realistically be utilized (due to lack of water and <br />~, cost), or unless a duect tap into either the B East Mains or 14SE Headgate faults occurs. As of the <br />time of this writing, MCC knows of no such use of this water. <br />7. "The permeability of the F and B-Seams and overlying strata is very low and the areas extent <br />and quantity of water stored in these units is small. (p. 28). MCC has conservatively estimated <br />that the B-Seam mine, including the Jumbo Mountain panels, and existing F-Seam mine would <br />fill in 139.6 yeazs. This estimate assumes no seepage or outflow and the worst case maximum <br />steady inflow for the F-Seam mine and the median of the five''-yeaz and life of the mine worst <br />case maximum steady inflows for the B-Seam mine." (p. 29). <br />Based on average inflows observed in 1997 resulting from fault system inflows in the eastern <br />portion of the mine (approximately 410 gpm), the same assumptions utilized for the jumbo <br />Mountain permit revision (no outflow and steady, "worst case" inflow), MCC has determined that <br />an extremely conservative estimate for the time to fill the West Elk Mine, including the B and E- <br />Seams in the Apache Rocks mining azea and the B-Seam in the Box Canyon mining azea would be <br />approximately 52 yeazs, or approximately 107 years at an average inflow rate of 200 gpm. The <br />basis for this computation is provided in Section 2.05.6. <br />8. "Representative water quality samples from wells located in jthe Lower Coal Member of the <br />Mesaverde Formation show that groundwater is suitable for discharge to the North Fork." (p. <br />29). <br />I. <br />1.05-141 NOVember 1004 PRlI <br />