Laserfiche WebLink
reclaimed during the well abandonment is insignificant. Each well takes a reclaimed azea of less than <br />0.5 squaze feet at the surface. According to WFC and information obtained from available records, <br />the reclamation work was conducted as per the permit requirements. <br />At all of the monitoring well locations for which bond release was requested, the vegetation had <br />become re-established at the site of the former well. From three feet below ground to the surface was <br />filled with topsoil and seeded at each location. In only a couple of cases there were a small amount of <br />rock chips evident and in one case (GW-N27) there was an old monitoring well'tag with the well <br />number left on the ground surface (see Photo 2). <br />At the exploration holes that could be located, vegetation is less well established because they have <br />only recently been abandoned (2005). A lazge number of the exploration drill holes were located in <br />what is now the pit azea and have been mined through including NHOS-lc through NHOS-13c. The <br />remainder of the exploration holes are located within the permit boundary to the west and south of the <br />active pit area. The majority of these holes aze in a current producing hay field and there was no <br />evidence of the exploration holes at the surface. Since these holes were located in fields that will be <br />farmed or grazed, no surface monuments were set. <br />Based on the bond release inspection and evaluation of abandonment reports and other supplemental <br />documentation provided by WFC, it was detennined that all of the 21 groundwater monitoring wells <br />and 27 exploration drill holes had been properly abandoned. Abandonment reports have been <br />submitted to the Division for all of the exploration drill holes. These were submitted with Minor <br />Revision No. 72. Monitoring well abandonment reports prepazed in accordance with Rule 4.07.3(3) <br />were submitted to the Division for all groundwater monitoring wells except for the following: GW- <br />N4, GW-N4R, GW-NS (indicated by WFC as mined through), GW-NI1 (no specific abandonment <br />report could be located but in a letter dated August 18, 2006 WFC states that the hole was reclaimed <br />by sealing with bentonite chips), and GW-16, GW-17, and GW-18 (abandoned by Peabody Coal <br />Company). As stated in WFC's amendment to the bond release application dated January 31, 2007, <br />GW-16, GW-17, and GW-18 were reclaimed by Peabody Coal Company while WFC was in the <br />process of acquiring the New Horizon Mine from them. <br />Summary and Conclusions <br />The Division has completed its review and evaluation of the Phase I, II, and III bond release request for <br />specific monitoring wells and exploration boreholes submitted by WFC for the New Horizon Mine. <br />Information provided in the abandonment reports and supplemental information demonstrated <br />compliance with the applicable criteria of Rule 4.07.3. Installation and sealing of the wells had <br />resulted in minimal surface disturbance. At all reclaimed well and borehole locations the surface had <br />topsoil replaced and was seeded. Based on the above described documentation and observations, the <br />reclaimed well and exploration borehole sites aze judged to meet requirements for final bond release. <br />7 <br />