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West Etk Mi»e <br />The most severe subsurface hydrologic consequences include: <br />! Formation of intercormected fractures in the fracture zone with local water-bearing units <br />of the overburden, thereby inducing either: (1) the movement of groundwater from one <br />formation to another or (2) loss of water to the mine workings. Should diversion to the <br />mine occur, this water will be collected, treated, and discharged into the North Fork or <br />the Dry Fork (see discussion above regarding the implications of surface water discharges <br />to the North Fork and Dry Fork). <br />As discussed extensively within this permit document, there are no regional aquifers <br />within the Mesaverde Formation in the vicinity of the West Elk Mine, nor is there <br />demonstrated formation groundwater use at the mine or in the general area. Consequently, <br />there aze no aquifers which could be damaged as a result of subsidence. While there has <br />been a sizeable amount of groundwater inflow observed from recently encountered fault <br />systems (B East Mains and 14SE Headgate) there is no evidence to indicate any use of that <br />water regionally. In addition, the observed inflows from these fault systems have <br />decreased over time to a small percentage of the initial inflows, similar to other <br />groundwater encounters in the mine. <br />\~ <br /> <br />• Interconnection of fracmres filled wilt water and methane (as reported in the Oliver No. 2 <br />Mine) with the mine workings via the B-Seam fracture zone. This subject is discussed <br />later in this section and in Exhibit 60. <br />As discussed in Section 2.05.6(6)(e)(i) Potemiad Impacts from Locad Sedsmic Activity, subsidence <br />could accelerate the naturally-occurring rockfall and landslide prophecies that are ah-eady evident <br />in the permit area, but this will not constitute a hazard to either people or property nor would this <br />measurably impact the surface or ground water hydrology of the azea. <br />Cracking of the earth along or across the trails on unimproved roads of the coal lease area already <br />naturally occurs, but in the "worse case" could be accelerated by or additional cracks created by <br />subsidence. As the trails and roads are unimproved, typically only all-terrain or four-wheel drive <br />vehicles are utilized and rough terrain is expected, so the hazazds created by any additional <br />subsidence (rather than natural) cracking would be minimal. MCC will conduct visual inspections <br />of primary public access to the US Forest Service lands on a monthly basis, weather and ground <br />conditions allowing, when these roads could be potentially impacted by undermining. MCC will <br />mitigate all roads that may have been impacted due to subsidence and provide signage, <br />particularly on public roads, warning and potential hazards. <br />2.05-104 Revisedlun. /995 PR06: 1146 RN03; Reviud May 1999 7889; RevisedJaa. 1498 PROS <br />