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• Unlike the sandstone above the coals to be mined on the property, the Trout Creek Sandstone <br />is believed to contain water in storage because it occurs at an elevation beneath Goodspring <br />Creek. However, limited data are available to describe the characteristics ofthe sandstone. Its <br />recharge area is projected to be south of the mine property, or in an area where the Trout <br />Creek Sandstone is above the elevation of Goodspring Creek and is exposed to the surface. <br />Recharge is also expected to occur south of the mine property principally because annual <br />precipitation increases at higher elevations. The direction of groundwater flow in the Trout <br />Creek Sandstone is projected to be in a generally northeast direction following the general <br />geologic structure. The principal discharge areas for the Trout Creek Sandstones are in the <br />valleys of Goodspring and Taylor Creeks where the sandstones subcrop in the valley bottom. <br />The Trout Creek Sandstone is removed by erosion in this general area. As a result, all <br />groundwater in the sandstone is forced to the surface. <br />Further evidence of the lack of groundwater above the coals currently being mined may be <br />found by examining test hole data records collected while the property was being explored. <br />Seventeen (17) observation wells were established to measure fluctuations in water levels at <br />the Colowyo site prior to mining. Locations of these wells are shown on the Regional <br />Hydrology Maps (Map 10). Depth-to-water in these wells ranged from less than 20 feet to <br />more than 500 feet as shown in Table IA, Well Logs and Water Level Measurements. Four <br />(4) of the holes were angered to a depth of 25 feet by the USGS. Three of the test holes were <br />completed in the floodplains of Goodspring, Taylor and Wilson Creeks. The fourth test hole <br />was completed near the west of the ridge on the east side of the mine site. The Bureau of <br />Reclamation drilled two (2) core test holes to a depth of 200 feet; these were completed as <br />observation wells. W. R. Grace & Co. completed seven (7) exploration core holes as <br />observation wells. In addition to these wells, the USGS drilled four (4) test holes in the <br />valleys of Streeter and Taylor Creeks. These holes were drilled to depths of 60 to 100 feet <br />and none produced more than 5 gallons per minute (gpm). <br />I <br />2.04.7-5 <br />