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Findings <br />The results of this investigation are described as follows: <br />- The original complaint alleged that mining operations dried up the well. This was <br />proven not to be the case, as there are approximately 39 feet of water found above <br />the former well pump intake level. <br />- The well has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair that inhibits water <br />production. There has been no attempt to rehabilitate the well to maximize or <br />maintain its productivity. <br />- The well is not permitted by the State Engineer's Office. There is no State <br />Engineer's Office water right adjudication associated with this well. <br />- Prior to the installation of the ventilation borehole, Basin Resources took appropriate <br />measures to m;nim;~p groundwater inflows during the drilling of the borehole and <br />after installation of the shaft, by injection grouting the overlying strata. <br />- Basin's monitoring of other wells in close proximity to active mining would indirectly <br />indicate that the windmill well may have experienced some drawdown from the <br />mining operations. However, there is no direct measurement or evidence that the <br />water level in the windmill well bas experienced a drawndown due to mining <br />operations, and monitoring of water levels in the Tatum well over the pass year has <br />not indicated a trend of a falling water table. <br />- The owner of the well has not made a demonstration of injury, or that the capacity of <br />the saturated thickness of the formation is now unable to meet historic usage. <br />- The well has appazently not been used in the 10 years since the hydrologic inventory <br />conducted by the mine in 1984. This inventory found the well to be "not functioning" <br />at that time. <br />Conclusion <br />On the basis of the above findings, the Division of Minerals and Geology concludes that <br />the operators of the Golden Eagle Mine have minimized possible hydrologic impacts <br />caused by mining activities upon the Tatum windmill well and that no injury to a vested <br />water right has been demonstrated. As such, no mitigative measures aze required of <br />Basin Resources at this time. Basin Resources, the current operator of the Golden <br />Eagle mine, will be required to update the statement of probable hydrological <br />consequences in the mining and reclamation permit to verify that impacts to the <br />hydrologic balance have been minimized. <br />11 <br />