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Dan Mathews <br />Page 3 <br />April 17, 2006 <br />of casing, diameter of casing, total depth of well, and perforated interval, and formation <br />completed in. <br />4. On page 5 of the AHR it is stated that the effect that the mine has on the groundwater <br />hydrology of East Salt Creek has not been detected. Yet data from GW-3 as indicated by <br />Table 5 of the AHR shows neazly a threefold increase in conductivity from the baseline <br />year average to the 2005 year average. There also appeazs to be a significant drop in the <br />water level measured at this well. It is further indicated on page 5 that GW-3 is located <br />outside of the influence of the irrigation of the hay field that affected Well GW-4. Given <br />this information, there does appear to be some effect on the East Salt Creek Alluvium. <br />Further explanation and discussion is warranted in this case under Probable Hydrologic <br />Consequences section of the AHR. <br />5. There appeazs to be a discrepancy with reference to the baseline data for GW-3 on Table <br />5 of the AHR (AW-6 = GW-3). Comparison of Figure 4.1-2 with Figure 4.2-2 of the <br />McClane permit and cross-referencing this to Table 2.5-1 of the Munger permit appears <br />to show that MW-2 = GW-3. It is uncleaz if MW-2 equates to AW-6. Please check the <br />reference to baseline data for GW-3 on Table 5 of the AHR, and update Table 5 if <br />appropriate. <br />6. The McClane permit document indicates that since the proposed mine is located above <br />the alluvial fills no direct disturbance of the alluvial aquifer will result from the actual <br />mining operation. The AHR indicates that the effect that the mine has on the <br />groundwater hydrology has not been detected. However, mine water is dischazged to <br />McClane Creek at outfall 002, which then discharges to East Salt Creek. Because <br />McClane Creek is ephemeral and East Salt Creek is either intermittent or ephemeral, at <br />least the potential exists that the mine discharge could be tributary and at some point <br />impact the East Salt Creek alluvium. This combined with the fact that there has been <br />some question in the past about possible irrigation return flows affecting the quality of <br />data from wells located in the vicinity of the mouth of Munger Canyon, may indicate that <br />an additional monitoring well would be useful. One additional well may be warranted in <br />the East Salt Creek alluvium just below McClane Canyon outside of the influence of the <br />irrigated hay field. This well located below the McClane Canyon mine discharge will aid <br />in identifying the effect if any the mine has on the groundwater hydrology of the East Salt <br />Creek alluvium. <br />7. In January 2006, the Division received Technical Revision No. 20 for the Munger Canyon <br />Mine, in which the operator is requesting approval to seal several of the alluvial wells that <br />are not currently being monitored. Specifically the application requests sealing wells <br />GW-2, GW-4, GW-7, and GW-S. The Division has reviewed the proposal in conjunction <br />with this AHR review and concurs with the sealing of these wells with exception of GW- <br />7. If access or right-of--entry is not an issue for GW-7 then the Division recommends that <br />