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Water for dust suppression is used within the mine in many ways. The <br />continuous miner, while working at the face, can consume up to 50 gallons of water <br />per minute in an effort to keep coal dust down. Also, water sprays are used at <br />underground conveyor transfer points and underground roads are watered. <br />Water which is imported to the mine is pumped from the onsite well located <br />adjacent to and east of the maintenance shop. A flow meter is utilized to determine <br />the total amount of water pumped from this well. The operator has well permit <br />number 42266-F for this well. The well permit provides for a pumping rate of 100 <br />gallons per minute and an average annual consumption of 40 acre feet. No record is <br />kept of the water which is pumped from the North Fork of the Gunnison River to the <br />onsite well. During 1996, no water was pumped from the well into the mine since <br />there was adequate mine water inflow to satisfy the mine's water needs. <br />The onsite well is used to 1) supply water to the underground mine; 2) supply <br />shower water to the office bathhouse; 3) supply water to the maintenance shop for <br />wash down water and water for the water truck for surface road dust suppression. <br />The flow meter only measures total consumptive use. The operator estimates the <br />volume of water used for each of the categories listed above based on historic use <br />values. <br />The water balance on page I Oa presents the estimated consiunptive use along <br />with mine inflow and discharge. The water source or supply for the mine includes <br />the estimated amount pumped from the well for surface use and the mine water <br />inflow 4.08 A-F and 44.8 A-F respectively (48.88 A-F). The water consumed in the <br />mine and discharged from the mine totaled 21.98 A-F and 18.37 A-F respectively <br />(40.35 A-F). This results in an apparent error (discrepancy} of (48.88 - 40.35) 8.53 <br />A-F or 5.3 gpm. This discrepancy in the water balance is high but not uncotrunon <br />when dealing with estimated flows rates and inaccurate flow meters. <br />As noted in Bear's 1995 Annual Hydrologic Report, beginning in June of <br />1995, the Bear #3 Mine began to notice a measurable amount of water flowing from <br />behind seals in the 3'd West Section. The source of this water was unknown since <br />during development of 3`d West no measurable water was encountered. During the <br />reporting period of 1996, water continued to flow from the 3'd West Seals, however, <br />water also began flowing from the bleeder seals in the 2nd West Section. This <br />additional inflow overcame Bear Coal's ability to consume inflows during normal <br />mining and found it necessary to begin discharging to the North Fork River. <br />Bear Coal Company, Inc. still suspects that the source of this water originates <br />in an abandoned area in the adjacent West Elk Mine. <br />A map depicting the area of the inflow is enclosed with this submittal in <br />Appendix A. <br />-1 1- 4/98 <br />