Laserfiche WebLink
,. r <br />\MOUNTAIN COAL <br />COMPANYL.L.C. <br />A Subsidiary of Arch Wesiem Resources. LLC <br />l1~py ~ , ~~~0 <br />November 15, 2000 <br />Mr. James Burnell <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Office of Mined Land Reclamation <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room Z 15 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />~%yl - -~ <br />afon of N/lnerd/S enC ~eologY <br />-ii i iii i ii i ii iiii iii <br />999 <br />West Elk Mine <br />P.O. Box 591 <br />5174 Highway 133 <br />Somerset CO 81434 <br />(970)929-5015 <br />Fax (970)929-5595 <br />Re: Mountain Coal Company LLC (MCC), West Elk Mine; Permit No. C-80-007; 1999 Annual <br />Hydrology Report, Well SOM-16-H <br />Deaz Mr. Burnell: <br />This letter is in response to the Division's letter and question dated October 4, 2000, regarding Well <br />SOM-16-H and information contained in the 1999 Annual Hydrology Report (AHR). <br />Groundwater well SOM-16-H shows in Appendix F, Figure F18, that depth to water was <br />approximately 1000 feet. In Appendix G, Table G-18, no sample was taken with a notation that a <br />blockage exists at 1023 feet. The Division's question is, "If there is a blockage 23 feet below the water <br />level, was there not enough water to sample?" <br />MCC is providing the following explanation: <br />As shown in Table G-18, on the sampling date of 7/20/99, an obstruction was noted at 840 feet. phis <br />obstruction in the well prevented the sampling thief, but not a water level detector, from traveling <br />down the hole to the sampling zone. The water level at approximately 1000 feet and blockage at 1023 <br />feet were detected using a water level detector that utilizes a small diameter electric cable and thus, was <br />able to travel past the obstruction at 840 feet. It should also be explained that the obstruction was <br />noted approximately four months afrer MCC had completed the No.12 Longwall Panel. Well SOM-] 6- <br />H is within the influence of the angle-of--draw due to subsidence. The contractor completed the field <br />parameters analyses x/14/99, and fully expected to sample for a full suite analysis on the 7/20/99 date, <br />however, the obstruction at 840 feet precluded that effort. The well will continue to be monitored to <br />determine if the water level will change due to it's close proximity to the No. 12 Longwall Panel. <br />