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The Wadge coal is in a confined condition in most of the wells which have been monitored. At well GW-42-S2W-SW, a downdip well due west of the south pit area, the Wadge appears to be semi-confined. While pumping this well, drawdown was observed in an adjacent overburden completion well. This observation indicates that there is, at this location, a hydrologic connection between the Wadge and the overburden. Aquifer tests were performed at two wells. One well failed during the test. The transmissivity calculated at the other well was 0.03 ftZ per day, while storativity has been estimated to be on the order of 1 X 10'. Six wells have been sampled for water quality characteristics, Five within or adjacent to the original permit area and one within the south extension area (4W). 4W has been dry since 2002. Due to safety concerns because of proximity to the highwall, it was abandoned in August 2003 and was replaced in 2004, by WW25. Typically, the quality of Wadge seam water varies from place to place. Generally, sulfate, manganese and total dissolved solids exceed both U.S. EPA and National Academy of Sciences recommended drinking water criteria. These criteria may be found in Volume 3, Tab 7, Table 7-I3, Page 7-34 of the permit application. These waters are unsuitable for use as a drinking supply, but may be used for livestock watering. These waters also pose a high salinity hazard to intolerant plants, and therefore may be unsuitable for use as irrigation water. Wadge Coal Overburden Six wells are used to monitor water quality and/or depth to water in the Williams Fork Formation overburden above the Wadge coal seam. Two of [he wells, 40V1 and 40V2 were down-gradient wells in the south extension area. Both of these wells have been recently abandoned. A replacement Wadge overburden well, WOV25, was drilled in 2004. The Williams Fork is a 50 to 500 feet thick sequence of sandstone, siltstone, shale, and thin coal, including the Lennox Coal Seam. Ground water in the Williams Fork tends to flow downdip. The movement of water and the horizontal extent of the formation is limited by outcrops in the eastern and central parts of the permit area. Generally, the Williams Fork is found to be in an unconfined state, however, locally or seasonally the formation may exhibit semi-confined conditions. Seasonal fluctuations are probably the result of recharging and dewatering a perched aquifer within the formation. Seneca II-W Findings Document 36 July 3, 2006 Permit Renewal No. 5