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4.3.1. Impacts to Adjudicated Wells Isee Trapper Permit C-81-010 Mao M31) <br /> <br />One First White Sandstone well, W-1406-78, exists north of the historic Colt and Browning Pits. This <br />well is approximately 3700 feet north of the edge of Browning Pit (see Permit C-81-010 Appendix V, <br />Part D). The First White Sandstone crops out north of the northem end of the Browning pit. The <br />southern limit of the First White Sandstone is approximately 1700 feet north of the northern end of <br />Browning pit. Impacts from mining would either have to be transmitted from the Second or Third White <br />Sandstone through shales to the First White Sandstone aquifer, or through direct contact of surface <br />impacted waters with the First White Sandstone aquifer. It is unlikely that an adequate vertical <br />connection exists between the Second and/or Third White Sandstone, and the First White Sandstone, <br />to result in negative impacts. A very limited potential exists for surface water runoff derived from spoil <br />springs to contact the First White Sandstone although no sign cant spoil springs have yet been <br />identified in this area. <br />During 1988, First White Sandstone monitoring well, GLUX-1, was established to evaluate water quality <br />in this aquifer downgradient of the Colt and Browning pit areas. Permit C-81-010 Map M52 depicts the <br />actual location. No water quality impacts have been shown as this site. The GLUX-1 well will be <br />abandoned following approval of this SL-7 document. <br />Second White Sandstone well 85775-A exists west and north of the Colt and Browning pits. The <br />Second White Sandstone aqu'rfer outcrops to the north of mining in the Browning and Colt pits area. <br />Well 85775-A is located approximately two miles from this mining. A noticeable drawdown from the <br />Browning pit mining did not develop at this well. Therefore, it is likely that the Trapper Mine does not <br />impact this well. <br />Third White Sandstone wells 93848 and 151991 are located 3,600 and 3,000 feet from the northern <br />extent of historic Browning Pit mining. These wells will likely not be impacted by mining operations that <br />occurred in Browning and Colt pits, ending in 1993. The strike and dip of the HI coal seams indicates <br />that both wells are completed above the H coal seam. Therefore, it is likely that these wells will not <br />have direct communication with ground water that flows through the backfill aquifer in the Browning <br />and Colt pits. In the alternative, assuming good contact between the HI backfill area and wells 931)48 <br />and 151991, estimated travel times of 20 and 16 years, respectively, were obtained. A gradient of <br />0.067 ft/ft was obtained for the 1996 HI aquifer water-level elevation map in this area and the use of an <br />average permeability of 0.5 ft/day along with an effective porosity of 0.1, were used to obtain this travel <br />time over the 3,600 and 3,000 foot distances, respectively. In the unlikely event that contact between <br />these wells and the Browning and Colt Pit backfill aquifer should occur, water quality of the wells would <br />not be degraded to the point it is no longer suitable for current uses. <br />