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was intercepted by the well. Seneca Coal Company has subsequently <br />abandoned this well. Based on analysis of the Wolf Creek and Wedge coal, <br />it is expected that water within the interburden, as in the other units, will <br />exhibit confined conditions downdip of the Sage Creek anticlinal axis. <br />No water quality sampling has been done in the interburden <br />Wedge Coal <br />The Wedge coal is the principal seam of interest at the Seneca II-W Mine. <br />It is typically 11 to 13 feet thick, except where split by partings. <br />The Wedge coal outcrops to the east of the permit area. These outcrops <br />and perhaps a portion of the overburden east of the permit area, are <br />thought to be the major source of recharge to the Wedge. Depth to water <br />and water quality are monitored at five sites within and adjacent to the <br />permit area. The varying amounts of head measured at these wells again <br />indicates that the major component of flow is to the west. The amount of <br />head within the Wedge, as in all the units in this area, is a function of <br />distance from the recharge area (anticlinal axis) and the type of <br />over/underburden present. <br />The Wedge coal is in a confined condition in most of the wells which have <br />been monitored. At well GW-42-S2W-SW, a downdip well due west of the <br />south pit area, the Wedge appears to be semi-confined. While pumping this <br />well, drawdown was observed in an adjacent overburden completion well. <br />This observation indicates that there is, at this location, a hydrologic <br />connection between the Wedge and the overburden. <br />Aquifer tests were performed at two wells. One well failed during the test. <br />The transmissivity calculated at the other well was 0.03 ftZ per day, while <br />storativity has been estimated to be on the order of 1 X 10-0. <br />Four wells were sampled for water quality characteristics. Typically, the <br />quality of this water varies from place to place. Generally, sulfate, <br />manganese and total dissolved solids exceed both U.S. EPA and National <br />Academy of Sciences recommended drinking water criteria. These criteria <br />may be found in Volume 3, Tab 7, Table 7-13, Page 7-34 of the permit <br />application. These waters are unsuitable for use as a drinking supply, but <br />may be used for livestock watering. These waters also pose a high salinity <br />hazard to intolerant plants, and therefore may be unsuitable for use as <br />irrigation water. <br />Wedge Coal Overburden <br />Six wells are used to monitor water quality and depth to water in the <br />Williams Fork Formation overburden above the Wedge coal seam. The <br />21 <br />