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Ground water flows from the recharge to the discharge, or in this case from <br />the anticlinal axis to the center of the basin, Therefore, the major <br />component of flow appears to be toward the west. <br />Aquifer tests were performed on the two updip wells during the summer of <br />1980. These tests indicate that the Wolf Creek is a fairly well confined <br />aquifer which transmits limited amounts of water. One well was pumped at <br />an average of 1.2 gallons per minute for about 3 1/2 hours, and produced <br />no observable drawdown at an observation well 20 feet away. Transmissivity <br />values calculated for the Wolf Creek range from 0.02 ftZ ~er day <br />(0.149 gallons per day per foot) for well 3WC, to 0.001 ft per day <br />(0.007 gallons per day per foot) in the two wells tested. Due to the low <br />water yield and transmissivity values, the storativity value of the Wolf Creek <br />seam is estimated to be about 1 X 10"5. These values, both transmissivity <br />and storativity, would appear to be quite low. Aquifer test data, however, <br />does substantiate these values. Due to the highly lenticular and <br />discontinuous nature of the Mesaverde Group, it is thought that <br />transmissivity and storativity will be aerially variable. <br />The quality of Wolf Creek coal water is slightly acidic, very hard and saline. <br />Based on data presented, the water type changes from calcium/sulfate to <br />sodium/bicarbonate down gradient. Total dissolved solids (TDS) values <br />exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water <br />standards at all three Wolf Creek wells at various sample times. TDS <br />criteria for livestock use has been met at all wells, while its use as irrigation <br />water is marginal due to adverse effects on many crops. Stock water criteria <br />also have been established by the EPA. Well 3WC displayed the only case <br />of elevated iron levels within the Wolf Creek coal. <br />As previously stated, Well 2WC is located down gradient, and has the lowest <br />levels of TDS and sulfate, indicating that the sulfate is being precipitated <br />from the water as it moves down gradient. <br />Wolf Creek/Wadge Interburden <br />Seneca installed one well (3EI) to monitor the interburden within the <br />permit area. The interburden consists of 165 to 215 feet of interbedded <br />sandstone, shale, siltstone and coal, thus forming a relatively impermeable <br />zone between the underlying Wolf Creek coal and the overlying Wadge coal. <br />Monitoring data for the well were presented in the permit application. <br />Depth to water measuremenu at this well were made for about 22 months. <br />This data not only shows very little seasonal fluctuation, but that the <br />interburden at this site is under unconfined or water table conditions. This <br />is not an expected characteristic because both the Wolf Creek coal and the <br />Wadge coal, at least seasonally, exhibit artesian head at this site. It is <br />possible that this well was not properly completed, or that a perched aquifer <br />20 <br />