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NOV C-97-020 West Elk Mine This NOV was issued for failure to conduct and/or report required hydrologic monitoring and, failure to provide an adequate hydrologic monitoring plan. Based upon a review of the mine 's annual hydrology report by Division staff, it was determined that water samples were not collected from two wells which apparently contained water at the time they were sampled; that damaged monitoring wells had not been maintained or replaced; and, that numerous required measurements of monitoring wells, surface water sites and springs were not taken or reported. The Division had also instructed the operator to amend their hydrology monitoring plan in order to adequately monitor potential hydrologic impacts which had been identified by the Division. Based on a December 5, 1997 letter from the operator, there may have been confusion as to whether the revised plans were required or requested. However, as of the date of this proposed penalty assessment, the required or requested modifications have not yet been approved. HISTORY Three NOV's have been issued at this site during the previous twelve months: however, all are still subject to administrative review at this time. No penalty is assessed for history. SERIOUSNESS The West Elk Mine is a large underground mine which has encountered significant amounts of ground water during mining operations in recent years. Failure to conduct and/or report many of the aspects of the required hydrology monitoring plan which were cited in this NOV precludes the operator and the Division from assessing impacts of mining on the hydrologic balance in the mining area. This assessment is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the operator and the Division. Because of the difficulty of assessing hydrologic impacts of the mine with data from the approved hydrologic monitoring plan, the Division asked the operator to submit a revised monitoring plan in December, 1996. Those revisions are still under discussion at this time. The problems cited in this NOV significantly impair the ability of the Division and the operator to adequately assess impacts of mining on the hydrologic balance. Due to the number and variety of monitoring omissions and, the scope of potential hydrologic impacts from this mining operation, this is a significant impact. $1250 is assessed for seriousness.