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West Elk Mine low water producer. Due to its areal extent, the Rollins Sandstone was thought to be a potential aquifer of regional importance, but the Rollins Sandstone has been found to have insufficient yield to sustain groundwater supply wells (Bowie No.l MRP). In addition, petrographic analysis revealed that the sandstone units within the Rollins Sandstone aze depositionally immature and have been designated as a "tight gas sand" by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (Mayo and Associates, 1998 and 1999). Furthermore, groundwater monitoring wells completed in the Rollins Sandstone do not provide predictable information regazding Rollins Sandstone groundwater conditions, as determined by Mayo and Associates during their investigation of fault-related groundwater inflows from the Rollins Sandstone at West Ells Mine (1998). In that study, and their hydrogeologic study completed in 1999, it was deternned that the groundwater systems associated with the Rollins Sandstone are not azeally extensive and not in hydrodynamic communication with each other. For these reasons, MCC does not plan to continue monitoring or complete any additional monitoring wells in the Rollins Sandstone. Most of the stratigraphic members of the Mesaverde Formation above the Rollins Sandstone outcrop within close proximity to West Elk Mine. Up-dip B-seam outcrops occur 0.6 to 4 miles from underground workings. Most workings intercept the B-seam within 2 miles of the up-dip outcrop. Existing and potential mining azeas in the overlying Upper Coal Member have similar distances to the up-dip outcrop. The Lower Coal Member (i.e., B-seam) extends down dip beneath the Gunnison River and does not crop out down-dip in the permit area. Down-dip outcroppings of rock units from the Bowie Sandstone and higher occur along the Gunnison River and in Sylvester Gulch in the mine permit area. Up-dip outcrops of rocks units associated with mineable coal tend to occur on steep slopes and thus have limited potential for groundwater recharge from the active zone. The stratigraphic sequence, observed spring locations and topography suggests groundwater rechazge is from snowmelt and precipitation and dischazges mainly from bedrock and colluvial springs on steeper slopes above the major drainages and is restricted to active zone groundwater systems. A small amount of water infiltrates downward through the bedrock units, while most moves laterally on top of relatively impermeable rock units, discharging where more permeable units outcrop/subcrop. Sandstone units within the Mesaverde Formation are generally lenticulaz, regionally discontinuous and are usually highly cemented. In general, the only extensive units are the persistent coal seams, especially the B Seam, and the Rollins Sandstone. The dip of these formations is to the northeast at generally less than 5 degrees. Due to low permeabilities within the Rollins Sandstone and the B Seam, local groundwater flow is controlled by secondary porosity (i.e, fractures). However, there is a general regional trend within these formations for the groundwater to flow in the direction of the northeast dip. No private, commercial, or industrial water supply wells other than those owned by MCC are presently located within the permit area based on a February 2003 review of the Colorado State Engineer's Office (SEO) well permit database. A summary of the permitted wells within the permit • area aze provided in Table 3A. This table summarizes the well location, permit number, owner's 2.04 -54 Revised November 1004 PRI G