GENERAL39156

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 1/23/1996
• Doc Name: BOREHOLE LRP-4 NOTICE OF INTENT X-95-212-04 WEST ELK MINE
• From: DMG
• To: DAVID A BERRY
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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999
STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Deparlmenl of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman 51., Room 215 g

Denver, Calurodo 80203 Il
~~

Phone: (3U JI 866 3567 I
'
FAK: 130]1 832-8106
DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL
RESOURCES
TO: DBVld A. ferry Roy Romer
Governor
From: Barbara Pavlik ~ lames 5. Lochhead
Ececueve Director
hLChael B. Long
Date: January 23, 1996 Division Director
Re: Borehole LRP-4
Notice of Intent No. %-95-212-04
West Elk Mine R~r~t.•+~ c,~narr.r.~~-~ ~ N~' ~-
With reference to the above NOI, I have reviewed the drillhole
abandonment report submitted by Mountain Coal Company and have
found that Borehole No. LRP-4, which was completed as a piezometer,
presumably as part of the water level monitoring program for the
West Elk Mine, has been improperly completed. Specifically, a
bentonite seal or packer was not installed above the sand filter
pack before filling the remainder of the annular space with cement
grout.
Typically, a bentonite seal is used
the thin cement grout slurry into the pore spaces of the filter
pack. One of the consequences of this improper completion can be
that water from the aquifer would be prevented from entering the
piezometer through the screen, which is surrounded by the filter
pack, because the pore spaces in the filter pack may be filled in
with cement.
It is possible that the integrity of this piezometer has not been
damaged by the improper completion, however it merits your close
scrutiny. If the water level in this piezometer remains completely
static over time, that would indicate that the piezometer is not
well connected to the .aquifer, and the data would be useless.
However, if normal fluctuations are observed, it would be safe to
assume that the piezometer is functioning properly.
If you or the operator have questions, please let me know.
cc: Larry Routten
to prevent the infiltration of
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