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Ground Water Effects <br />Dewatering <br />None of the massive, regional sandstone aquifers in the area of <br />the Energy Mine No. 3 are Drojected to be impacted by <br />dewatering as a result of mining. However, ground water within <br />the Madge Coal Seam (the unit being mined at Energy Mine No. 31 <br />and in the discontinuous, lenticular sandstones located <br />stratigraphically above it may be temporarily dewatered due to <br />the proposed mining operations. These locally water bearing <br />strata have been termed the Wadge Overburden Aquifer by CYCC. <br />The Wadge Overburden Aquifer is the only aquifer projected to <br />be disturbed as a result of mining operations at Energy Mine <br />No. 3. The applicant states that existing data and field <br />observations substantiate that surface mining has not in the <br />past, and is not expected in the future, to intercept the <br />saturated zone of the Wadge Overburden Aquifer. Therefore, the <br />applicant states, no dewatering should occur, and no drawdown <br />of water levels in the Wadge Overburden Aquifer are predicted <br />from the mining operations. The contours of the piezometric <br />surface shown on Map 4a, Mine No. 3 Hydrology, indicate that <br />the elevation of this surface in the Wadge Overburden Aquifer <br />is below the lowest elevation of surface mining. <br />Based on other data available in the permit application <br />(e.g. conflicting water level elevations on page 2.05-168a and <br />Exhibit 3, Addendum 1), the Division does not necessarily agree <br />that the piezometric surface of the overburden aquifer is below <br />the lowest elevation of surface mining. This point is not of <br />major concern in this instance, however, and the Division does <br />concur with the applicant that mining operations have not in <br />the past, and should not in the future, significantly dewater <br />the Wadge Overburden Aquifer. Even if some dewatering were to <br />occur as a result of mining operations, it would be a temporary <br />effect which would be mitigated soon after reclamation. There <br />are no nearby water use wells tapping the Wadge Overburden <br />Aquifer that would be adversely impacted as a result of any <br />potential dewatering due to the proposed mining operations. <br />-25- <br /> <br />