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formation and the Picture Cliff sandstone is not relevant in that mining operations will not <br />• be conducted below the "C" seam coal th the Fruitland formation. Therefore, the <br />groundwater baseline program as well as the montlily and quarterly analysis conducted <br />during the sampling period were directed toward the quantity and quality of groundwater <br />associated with the valley formed by Stollsteimer Creek and the manner in which the region <br />is connected to and affected by the coal seams. <br />The well completion data, geology specific to the area and experience obtained through <br />surface mining operations are instrumental in providing a relatively realistic view of the <br />extent of groundwater. <br />The alluvial wells referenced above were completed to fairly shallow depths (6 to 12 feet). <br />These wells are closely related to the waters of Stollsteimer Creek. The results of depth to <br />water measurements indicate fluctuations in these wells consistent with surface flow <br />fluctuations. In a similar fashion, surface water quality and the quality of these wells is very <br />closely related. <br />The groundwater associated with this zone extends to that of the coal-bearing formation. <br />This is more readily explained when one examines the geology of the coal and its <br />relationship to the alluvial groundwater. The Geology Description, 2.04.6,describes the dip <br />and strike of the coal as 6 to 8 degrees southwest and north 60 degrees west. The <br />hydrologic connection between the alluvial material and the coal occurs in the southwest <br />portion of the mine are where the depth of the coal in relation to the alluvium is the <br />• greatest. Experience from past mining operations indicates that the "B"and "C"seams are <br />typically saturated in the southwest portion of the mine area. <br />Typically, groundwater is encountered at depths commensurate with that of the "B" seam <br />coal and consistent with the dip and strike of the coal-bearing formation. Groundwater <br />becomes evident at approximately 120 feet below the surface where this depth corresponds <br />with a maximum undisturbed surface elevation of 6,475 feet. The area of saturation is <br />defined by this limit with an upper limit at or slightly above the "B"seam coal. <br />The well information discussed here is presented in Table 6, Well Completion Information. <br />The deep wells (W-6, W-7, W-9, W-10, W-16, W-17, and W-18) vary in depth. W-6 is <br />approximately 45 feet in depth, while W-7 is 59 feet in depth. The horizontal extent of <br />groundwater associated with the wells is erratic and is likely limited by surface and <br />subsurface physical constraints. Wells W-9, W-10, W-16, W-17, and W-18 vary in depth from <br />118 to 140 feet. <br />An examination of wells W-6 and W-7 indicates their probable accessibility to groundwater <br />is limited to surface topography. W-6 is approximately 45 feet deep and is located in the <br />lower portion of the valley formed by Deep Creek. That well was found to be dry on <br />numerous occasions during the sampling program. W-7 is located adjacent to Stollsteimer <br />Creek and slightly higher in elevation than the creek. That well is also dependent on the <br />`• 2.04-16 Rev. 12/01/95 <br />