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Groundwater Uses General Area Groundwater uses in the general and permit areas of the Colowyo mine are minimal and of low volume. Questions were raised in the past concerning well yields within four miles of the mine site. At that time the Colowyo Coal Company undertook a program to investigate reported yields based on the Colorado State Engineer's records. A search of the State's files revealed that only three wells within four miles of the mine site have reported well yields of 50 gal./min. The remaining wells have revorted yields of less than 16 gal./min; most of the wells have revorted yields of less then 7 gal./min. The well yields were not field checked to determine actual use or rate of use. There are no wells that have reported yields in excess of 50 gal./min. Very little groundwater resource development has taken place in the Axial area. There are a few relatively shallow, low-yield wells on • or near the leasehold area that were dug for domestic purposes. Permit Area Groundwater uses in the mine area are also limited due to the depth to water and its limited overall availability. Colowyo has developed two wells on the mine area to supply a portion of the domestic needs. The two deep wells, Taylor Creek Nos. 1 and 3 are located in Section 33, T4N, R93W, and in Section 4, T3N, R93W respectively. Taylor Creek No. 1, completed to a depth of 825 feet in the Williams Fork Formation, produces 40 qpm with a static water level of 110 feet. Taylor Creek No. 3, completed to a depth of 2,284 feet in the Iles Formation, produces 20 gpm with a static water level of 135 feet. The information collected from the Colowyo Mine area indicates that groundwater is very limited, even to depths significantly below mining activities. This conclusion is supported by the depths of the potable wells, Taylor Creek No. 1 and Taylor Creek No. 3, necessary for sustained production. Further evidence of lack of • 2.04.7-25