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Soil Monitor Data <br />Soil methane monitors were installed in the affected area on the Toupal pasture and the slope north of Highway <br />on March 23. 1999. Twentydive monitors were installed, each to a depth of about three feel. Methane <br />measurements were taken during each sampling episode using a Land Tech GA-90 3-gas monitor. An <br />adequate volume of air was extracted during the sampling to characterize the gas content of the sod profile in <br />which the monitoring well was completed. Measurements were logged for methane content, oxvaen content, <br />and <br />From the lime of installation through November 2002, 16 separate mondoring episodes were conducted. Ten <br />additional monitors were installed in September 2000 to further help identify the extent of contamination No <br />pattern of contamination based on methane content and Iocahon could be discerned from these data. <br />Variations m methane content followed no distinct pattern. During this period two new sites of methane <br />contamination in the soil profile were rdenhfied. One was located some 506 feet north of water monitoring well <br />LA-264 m the river valley. Another site was confirmed as a halo of dead vegetation around water monitoring <br />well LA-278 near the Golden Eagle mine access road. <br />Five reports documenting the presence of methane in the soil profile have been generated by Greystone <br />Development Consultants on behalf of Basin Resources Inc These reports span the time period April 1999 to <br />November 2002. Data s compiled on a cumulative bas's since installation of sotl monitors in March 1999. <br />Analysis of sotl monitor data <br />Original hypotheses were developed and pointed to gas well drilling (28-10 and 28-1 t) andlor mining activ~aes <br />at the Golden Eagle mine as possible causes of the methane contamination of the so+l profile. Although the two <br />gas wens are located in the Toupal pasture and near areas of confirmed methane contaminatron, the nearest <br />underground coal mine openings are the Thvd north ventilati0n shaft at 550 feet measured horizontal and the <br />third north mains located some 806 feel horizontal and approximately 350 feet below the general area of <br />contamination. Both gas well drilling and mining encountered srgndicant problems regarding methane during <br />development. <br />On January 16. t 988, the face of the second right development section was blasted out by water pressure <br />accompanied by high flows of water and methane that faced progresswe withdrawal along the section, Water <br />production was estimated m excess of 400 gallons per minute (gpm) and methane liberation from the anomaly <br />was calculated at 3 3 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd). (Golden Eagle mine permit #C-8t-073, page 2.04- <br />7 <br />Soil monitors in Toupal pasture -left foreground, far right center <br />