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<br />The Trinidad Sandstone underlies the Vermejo Formation. The Trinidad <br />Sandstone is a lateral]y extensive sandstone unit used as a key marker <br />bed in the Raton Basin. This formation consists of massive and <br />interbedded sandstones. The formation is a significant regional aquifer, <br />because of its lateral extent and saturated thickness. <br />The Trinidad Sandstone is not used as a water supply in the permit and <br />adjacent areas, probably due to the availability of alluvial and surface <br />water supplies, and the depth of drilling required to tap this aquifer. <br />This aquifer, however, may be the source of the water flow encountered in <br />conjunction with an apparent fault zone during development of the <br />Second Right entries in early T988. An extensive discussion of the <br />geology and hydrology of this water flow is made on pages 2.04-7 to 21 of <br />the revision application document. <br />An inventory of water wells was made by the operator for the permit and <br />adjacent area. Data from this survey appears in Tables 7, 8, and 9 and <br />in Exhibits 6 and 8 of the renewal and revision application documents. <br />Location of these wells may be found on Map 7. <br />As a result of Stipulations Nos. 4, 5, and 6 to the original permit, <br />springs and seeps within the permit and adjacent area were identified by <br />the operator and monitored fora limited period of time during the first <br />permit term. Data from this survey appears in Tables 11 and 12 of the <br />renewal application; monitoring results are incorporated in Exhibit 10. <br />Stipulations Nos. 4, 5, and 6 of the original permit have been <br />satisfied. Stipulation No. 7 of the original permit required a map of <br />all wells within one mile of the permit area together with an assessment <br />of the probable hydrologic consequences of mining on these wells. This <br />stipulation has been satisfied, <br />The Quaternary age alluvial deposits along the Purgatoire River contain <br />ground water. These alluvial deposits are a major ground water source in <br />the region. Most of the domestic, livestock, and irrigation wells <br />identified in the permit and adjacent areas are completed in the alluvium <br />adjacent to the Purgatoire River. The quality and quantity of alluvial <br />ground water in this aquifer is dependent on the quality and quantity of <br />water in the river and the domestic, agricultural, and industrial <br />activities on, and adjacent to the alluvial body. <br />As a result of Stipulation No. 8 to the original permit, investigations <br />were made of Ciruela and Apache Canyon to determine the existence of <br />alluvial aquifers, Neither canyon was found to contain such deposits. <br />No determination was, however, made for Santistevan Canyon which does <br />contain a perennial stream. <br />Based on the study provided by WFC with the permit revision the Division <br />has determined that Santistevan Canyon does not contain an alluvial <br />aquifer. However, since the proposed revision includes longwall mining <br />under Wet Canyon, in order to satisfy Rule 2.04.7(1) the following <br />stipulation is necessary: <br />-7- <br />