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this area, is a function of distance from the recharge area (anticlinal axis) and the <br />type of over/underburden present. <br />The Wadge coal is in a confined condition in most of the wells which have been <br />monitored. At well GW-42-S2W-SW, a downdip well due west of the south pit <br />area, the Wadge appears to be semi-confined. While pumping this well, drawdown <br />was observed in an adjacent overburden completion well. This observation <br />indicates that there is, at this location, a hydrologic connection between the Wadge <br />and the overburden. <br />Aquifer tests were performed at two wells. One well failed during the test. The <br />transmissivity calculated at the other well was 0.03 ft' per day, while storativity has <br />been estimated to be on the order of 1 X 10'. <br />Six wells have been sampled for water quality characteristics, five within or <br />adjacent to the original permit area and one within the south extension area (4W). <br />4W has been dry since 2002. Due to safety concerns because of proximity to the <br />highwall, it was abandoned in August 2003 and was replaced in 2004, by WW25. <br />Typically, the quality of Wadge seam water varies from place to place. Generally, <br />sulfate, manganese and total dissolved solids exceed both U.S. EPA and National <br />Academy of Sciences recommended drinking water criteria. These criteria may be <br />found in Volume 3, Tab 7, Table 7-13, Page 7-34 of the permit application. These <br />waters are unsuitable for use as a drinking supply, but may be used for livestock <br />watering. These waters also pose a high salinity hazard to intolerant plants, and <br />therefore may be unsuitable for use as irrigation water. <br />Wadge Coal Overburden <br />Six wells are used to monitor water quality and/or depth to water in the <br />Williams Fork Formation overburden above the Wadge coal seam. Two of the <br />wells, 4OV 1 and 4OV2 were down-gradient wells in the south extension area. <br />Both of these wells have been recently abandoned. A replacement Wadge <br />overburden well, WOV25, was drilled in 2004. <br />The Williams Fork is a 50 to 500 feet thick sequence of sandstone, siltstone, shale, <br />and thin coal, including the Lennox Coal Seam. Ground water in the Williams <br />Fork tends to flow downdip. The movement of water and the horizontal extent of <br />the formation is limited by outcrops in the eastern and central parts of the permit <br />area. <br />Generally, the Williams Fork is found to be in an unconfined state, however, <br />locally or seasonally the formation may exhibit semi-confined conditions. Seasonal <br />Seneca [I-W Findings Document 36 June 12, 2006 <br />Permit Renewal No. 5 <br />