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sufficient to address the replacement needs for the Heit operation. Since no <br />augmentation will be required once the slurry wall is completed and all <br />groundwater pumped out, there is no need for any long-term augmentation <br />These numbers are approximate in nature and are subject to possible changes <br />once the Temporary Substitute Supply Plan is submitted for review to the <br />Division of Water Resources. <br />14. The Applicant had a groundwater analysis performed for the site by Wright Water <br />Engineers (WWE). The study is attached for your reference. We feel the study <br />adequately addresses the Divisions concerns as outlined in numbers 14 through <br />16 of your letter. In general, the Applicant commits to installing monitoring wells <br />around the perimeter of the site and also utilizing data obtained from private wells <br />surrounding the site for which the owners would allow monitoring to occur. A <br />baseline groundwater level could then be determined after a 5-quarter monitoring <br />regime. The monitoring will begin in the third quarter of 2003 and the Applicant <br />commits to not beginning dewatering operations until the 5-quarters of data is ~. <br />obtained. The trigger point would be if groundwater levels in the area dropped <br />more tha eve-feeYbel~y the normal seasonal fluctuations in the area, in which -- <br />case the Applicant 6utd cease dewateri do h time that a <br />cause of the drop could be determined. If the cause is determine o be the <br />Applicant's mining operation, mitigation effo will be discussed at that time and <br />decisions made will be based on which mitigation measure best serves all parties <br />involved. Some mitigation measures that could be employed would be re-drilling <br />wells, diverting available water supplies to the injured party, and/or trucking water <br />to the injured party. Since the time of the a lication submittal, the Applicant has <br />also committed to installin tea- nch Drain system along the southern and <br />western sides of the property o ive r towards the north and east and <br />around the property. This will help minimize the mounding and shadow effects <br />even further. <br />15. It is likely that groundwater will be affected by the mine. However, we feel that <br />any affect will be negligible. Based on the results of the WWE study it appears <br />that a two to three foot draw-down affect may occur on the down-gradient <br />(northern and eastern) sides of the mine area once the slurry wall has been <br />installed. Similarly, on the up-gradient (southern and western) a one to two foot ' <br />mounding affect may occur. The two to three foot draw-down would be <br />characteristic at the mine boundaries, with less draw-down as distance from the <br />slurry wall increases. For instance, at a distance of 50 feet from the slurry wall, <br />the draw-down will be significantly less than the two to three feet at the slurry <br />wall. For this reason, we feel that the cone of depression from the drawdown <br />affect would be minimal and cause no harm to adjacent groundwater wells. <br />Monitoring, trigger points and possible mitigation are discussed in #14 above. An <br />illustration showing the predicted extent of drawdown and mounding affects can <br />be found in Figure 3 of the WWE study. <br />16. The shadow effect of the slurry wall should have absolutely no impact on the <br />structural integrity of any wells, drainages, or other activities that rely on <br />groundwater, including the wetlands around Little Dry Creek. According to data <br />from the Office of the State Engineer, the average groundwater well within 600' <br />of the mine limits is drilled to a depth of 30 feet. The average static water level in <br />these wells is 6 feet below ground level. A draw-down of 2-3 feet at the slurry <br />