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West Elk Mine <br />The stream area near the confluence of Dry Fork and Deer Creek, within the area of influence of the <br />west edge of longwalt panels E2 and E3, will be monitored prior to, during, and after mining. This <br />is the area where the overburden thickness is at a minimum for the South of Divide mining area <br />(350 to 400 feet) and subsidence effects (subsidence, tilt, and strain) are expected to be at a <br />maximum. Survey monuments will be installed-roughly parallel to the long axes of longwall <br />panels E2 and E3-along Dry Fork, neaz the Dry Fork road, where measurements can be efficiently <br />made every two weeks when the longwall face is within the angle of draw. <br />In order to obtain detailed data on subsidence pazameters in this stream valley environment, the <br />monuments will be placed on 40- to 50-foot centers-roughly equal to one-tenth of the <br />overburden thickness. Periodic measurements will document subsidence amount, tilt, and <br />horizontal strain, which then will then be compazed with predicted values in Table 2 of Exhibit <br />60B. <br />The flow in Dry Fork will be monitored upstream and downstream from this area of maximum <br />mining effects in panels E2 and E3, in order to document any flow changes, and also compaze <br />the results of field measurements with Mr. Dunrud's projections. Flow will be measured at three <br />to four locations in the stream bed over each panel while mining is occurring within the angle of <br />draw on a once every two week basis, assuming road and climatic conditions allow such <br />monitoring. These measurements will be obtained using non-permanent, non-destructive devices <br />such as flow meters or portable flumes or weirs. One flow monitoring location will be <br />established upstream of the angle of draw of the panel being mined (E2 or E3), one or two within <br />• the area of the panel, and another downstream of the panel outside the angle of draw. The <br />biweekly flow monitoring will begin one month before the longwall advances to a point where <br />the stream channel would be in the angle of draw of subsidence and continue for one month after <br />the panel has advanced beyond the azea where the stream is within the angle of draw. After the <br />month is complete, monitoring will occur once every quarter for one yeaz after mining of the <br />longwall panel (E2 or E3) is complete. <br />The thalweg of the Dry Fork will be surveyed over panels E2 and E3 beginning at a point <br />downstream of the angle of draw of panel E2 and continue upstream to a point above the angle of <br />draw of panel E3. This survey will completed before mining commences in the SOD and then <br />remeasured upon completion of mining panel E2 and then again at the completion of mining E3. <br />A final survey will be conducted approximately one yeaz after completion of mining E3 and <br />subsidence within the azea of both panels is essentially complete. <br />These flow and thalweg surveys will be used to determine if mitigation of the stream channel due <br />to significant changes in flow or the stream profile due to subsidence aze warranted. Mitigation <br />of mining impacts may be necessary if loss or diversion of flow or a significant change in the <br />stream profile will significantly impact vegetation. Mitigation may require the sealing of <br />fractures, if they occur in the stream channel with bentonite/soil mixes to stop water loss, <br />excavating ridges or high azeas created by subsidence within the stream channel that impede <br />flow, redirecting flow, if necessary, back into the original channel if diverted due to subsidence, <br />and re-establishing riparian vegetation in areas negatively impacted by changes in flow locations. <br />The appropriate permits will be obtained prior to performing mitigation activities. <br /> <br />2.05-l38 Revised November 2004 PRIO <br />