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third well went dry last yeaz. The fact that the wells went dry seems to be explainable. (See accompanying paper on Southfield Hydrology.) Groundwater from PHC predictions: 1. There will be minor reductions in downgradient groundwater flows. It was pointed out in the permit that no domestic or agricultural groundwater wells are completed within the Vermejo formation. A review of State Engineer's records on 9 July 2003 confirmed this. There are no registered wells within aone-mile radius of the mine facilities and no registered wells in or near the JOL seam (and probably not in the Vermejo formation at all) for a distance of more than two miles down-gradient. The surface elevation rises considerably to the North of the mine area, decreasing the probability that any wells would be drilled into the Vermejo from that unpopulated azea. Further north, the synclinal axis flows beneath the alluvium of the Arkansas River and its tributaries, much more easily accessible and productive groundwater sources than the tight Vennejo formation. Water level data from the wells MW-8 and MW-65 indicate that there may be minor reductions, as predicted. The level of MW-8 dropped significantly for a period of three years (1993 through 1995) but then recovered to its original level before caving when mined through. The water level in MW-65 dropped 40 feet in 1987 and has remained essentially steady since then. Based on these data there appears to have been minor reduction in flow. 2. There will possibly be dewatering of the Vento Seam The Vento Seam, approximately 100 feet above the Southside mining interval, is not monitored by any means that I can identify. The Rex Carbon seam was tapped by two wells. There is no means, therefore, to directly test the prediction. 3. There will be localized drops in the piezomentric surface. Based on existing data, this occurred briefly (for a couple years) and to a small extent. My interpretation is that the rocks aze so "tight" that dewatering does not occur over a great distance and the traditional concept of "cone of depression" may occur only within an individual unit (not across strata). 4. There will be local alterations in the groundwater flow patterns There is no evidence of this one way or the other.