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Mepo and Asseelales, LC <br />• Recommended Changes: <br />Remove SOM-128H and So. W-3 from the monitoring plan. Because groundwater systems in <br />the Rollins Sandstone are not areally extensive and are not in hydrodynamic communication <br />with each other new Rollins Sandstone monitoring wells should not be installed. <br />2.2 Springs <br />The current monitoring plan includes springs that issue from both near-surface and bedrock <br />groundwater systems (Table 1 b). Most of the springs issue from groundwater systems which <br />circulate in landslide deposits and which do not have hydraulic communication with bedrock. <br />None of the springs issue from groundwater systems that have hydraulic communication with <br />coal-seam-related groundwater systems. Almost all of [he springs issue from shallowly- <br />circulating groundwater systems that have immediate hydrodynamic communication with <br />seasonal recharge events. These groundwater systems have been characterized as the active <br />zone, whereas most groundwater encountered in mine openings is part of the i~tacttve zone <br />(Mayo and Associates, L.C. 1999). <br />Coal mining has not historically affected the discharge rates of springs in the vicinity of West <br />Elk Mine. Except for localized subsidence effects and mine openings that are neaz steep <br />mountain fronts or are within a few hundred feet of land surface, coal mining does not have <br />the potential to impact discharge rates from springs in the vicinity of West Elk Mine. Even <br />though it is unlikely that coal mining will affect spring discharge rates, it is important that <br />. flow rate measurements continue on decreed springs in future mining areas. Continued <br />Evaluation of the West Elk Mine Monitoring Plan <br />29 January 1999 <br />Page 8 <br />