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<br />The Hay Gulch alluvial aquifer, which is adjacent to the operation, averages <br />20 feet in depth and has a cross sectional area of 25,200 square feet, with an <br />estimated transmissivity of 70,400 gallons per day per foot (gpd/ft). The <br />water table surface in this alluvial aquifer varies with season from above <br />ground surface to about 3 feet below the surface. The direction of flow in <br />this unconfined system is postulated to be in a downstream direction, parallel <br />to the strike of Hay Gulch. Recharge to the alluvium is from snowmelt and <br />precipitation infiltration, and from the Menefee Formation contact along the <br />north side of Hay Gulch. Sampling of this alluvial water by National King <br />Coal indicates that the water is high in total dissolved solids. The poor <br />quality of the water makes it unsuitable for domestic and irrigation purposes, <br />but usable for stock watering. <br />The Point Lookout Sandstone is located about 275 feet below the mined coal <br />unit. It is unlikely that this formation contributes any water to the mine. <br />Ground water use in the vicinity of the mine is limited. Within a one-mile <br />radius of the permit area, one spring and three water wells have been <br />identified. <br />The Huntington Spring is located on the north side of Hay Gulch west of the La <br />Plata No. 1 Mine area (File C-87-072). This spring, which may issue from <br />either the lower Menefee Formation or the Hay Gulch alluvium, has been <br />adjudicated fora water right. La Plata Coal Corporation demonstrated during <br />permitting of the La Plata No. 1 Mine that this water right has been <br />abandoned; therefore, no further investigations or monitoring are required. <br />Two water supply wells are located within or near the permit area: one at the <br />King Coal Mine and one at the La Plata No. 1 Mine. A third water well, <br />located in an upslope terrace deposit, has been capped and abandoned. <br />Although no completion data have been submitted, it appears that the abandoned <br />well was completed in the underlying Point Lookout Sandstone. The National <br />King Coal water supply well is completed in the Hay Gulch alluvial aquifer <br />just west: of the facilities area. The La Plata No. 1 Mine well, which has <br />been reported to be in existence since about 1905, is located near the <br />facilities area of that mine. This well, for which a water right has been <br />filed, is probably completed in the Point Lookout Sandstone. <br />The February 4, 1982 Findings Document imposed a stipulation pertaining to <br />covering the Hay Gulch alluvium well and using this well for monitoring <br />purposes. <br />National King Coal covered the well and performed the necessary monitoring <br />throughout the first permit term. Because National King Coal will continue to <br />use this monitoring well as a water supply well for the mine and because this <br />well provides valuable information about the alluvial water quality, the <br />Division determined monitoring should continue. Rather than continuing with <br />this stipulation, National King Coal committed to performing the necessary <br />water monitoring. Table 1 lists the water quantity and quality parameters to <br />be monitored quarterly on a Monday morning after the well has set idle for the <br />weekend. These results will be submitted to the Division quarterly. <br />-8- <br />