Laserfiche WebLink
G. Transfer of Wells <br />At the conclusion of mining, the two wells used in the operation will be transferred <br />back to the owners at the written request of the surface owners (4.05.14). <br />H. Dischazge of Water into an Underground Mine <br />No surface water will be discharged into the underground mine workings (4.05.15). <br />I. Probable Hydrologic Consequences <br />Ground Water Effects <br />The ground water-bearing units having the greatest potential to be affected by mining <br />at the King Coal and King II Mines aze the Hay Gulch alluvium, the Menefee <br />Formation, and the Cliffhouse Sandstone. (The Point Lookout Sandstone is well <br />beyond the area of influence of the mines because it is approximately 250 feet <br />stratigraphically below the workings. The Point Lookout has been monitored since <br />late 2000 in the Haugen well about 5000 ft. down-dip from the workings. Monitoring <br />data show no impacts from mining at King Coal.). <br />Hay Gulch Alluvium -The mine will not dischazge enough water to the Hay Gulch <br />alluvium to impact the alluvium. The Hay Gulch alluvium has been monitored in the <br />Wiltze well, downstream from the west sediment pond at the King Coal Mine. <br />Monitoring data indicate no mining impacts to this unit. The King II Mine will also <br />monitor alluvial water quality in adown-gradient well. <br />Cliffhouse Sandstone - It appeazs unlikely that the King Coal and King II Mines will <br />fill with water after mining is finished. With the exception of one inflow event, the <br />mine workings of the King Coal Mine have been dry. Both mines appeaz to underlie <br />the updip, unsaturated portion of the Cliffhouse Sandstone. Impermeable shale and <br />siltstone of the Menefee Formation underlie the workings, and also aze unlikely <br />inflow sources for the workings. If the King Coal Mine or King II Mine workings <br />were to eventually fill with water, it seems unlikely the water could be transmitted <br />from the workings to the Cliffhouse Sandstone through intergranulaz porosity in roof <br />rock of the workings because the roof rock is composed of shale, which probably is <br />impermeable to water. (Drill hole sample logs in Appendix 4 ofthe permit show the <br />Upper Coal Seam of the Menefee Formation, the seam mined at the King Coal Mine, <br />is bounded above and below by shale.) Subsidence fractures in the roof rock, <br />however, could provide a conduit of flow for water from the workings to the <br />overlying Cliflhouse. Therefore, if the workings fill with water, and subsidence <br />fractures convey that water to the Cliffhouse Sandstone, then impacts could possibly <br />occur to the water quality in the Cliffhouse Sandstone aquifer down-dip from the <br />workings, if mine water is lower quality than ambient ground water. Significant flow <br />from the workings to the Clifthouse through subsidence fractures is unlikely, <br />however, because head in the overlying (higher elevation) Cliffhouse would be <br />17 <br />