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Fina] West Elk Mine 2005 Annual Hydrology Report 39 <br />• Upper Dry Fork Alluvial well had a slightly elevated conductivity of 737 µmhos/cm, compared to <br />the maximum baseline value of 509 µmhos/cm; chloride concentration of 35 mg/1, compared to the <br />maximum baseline value of 6 mgll; and phosphate concentration of 2.45 mg/1 compazed to the <br />maximum baseline value of 0.4 mg/l. The Lower Dry Fork Alluvial Well had elevated iron levels <br />(3.26 mg/1) compared to the maximum baseline of 0.51 mg/1, and phosphate concentrations of 1.61 <br />mg/l, compazed to the maximum baseline of 0.03 mg/1. Well 03-11-1 had a slightly elevated <br />conductivity levels (3,430 µmhos/cm), compared to the maximum baseline value of 2,730 <br />µmhos/cm, a nitrate level of 2.44 mg/1 compared to the maximum baseline value of 0.21 mg/1, and <br />a phosphate concentration of 0.43 mg/I, compared to the maximum baseline value of 0.09 mg/l. <br />Well 96-2-2 had an elevated phosphate concentration of 0.89 mg/1, compazed to the maximum <br />baseline of 0.1 mg/1. Well SOM-3B had a slightly elevated conductivity of 5,080 µmhos/cm, <br />compared to the maximum baseline value of 3,070 µmhos/cm. These values are all suspect and <br />there is no indication that these water quality changes are attributed to mining operations and no <br />additional changes are expected in WY 2006. <br />The shallow Alluvial monitoring Well GP-4 went dry in WY 2002 and remained dry throughout <br />WY 2005. Wells GP-3 and RPE-7 went dry in WY 2004 and did not rebound in WY 2005, even <br />• with higher than average precipitation. The water level drop in these wells may be due to the up- <br />gradient diversion of surface water runoff in the azea <br />Well SOM-45-H1 and Well SOM-45-H2 have been affected by the underlying longwall mining in <br />Panel 13. These wells are completed in the barren member of the Mesaverde Formation above the <br />F Seam respectively. The interburden between this horizon and the mined interval is about 800 <br />feet thick. The well casing in SOM-45-H1 collapsed between June and September 2002 and the <br />well is no longer functional. The dropping water level in SOM-45-H2 stabilized in WY 2005, <br />dropping only 1 foot compazed to 5 feet in WY 2004, 9.5 feet in WY 2003, 12 feet in WY 2002, 13 <br />feet in WY 2001, and 34 feet in WY 2000. Ground water levels appear to have stabilized since <br />mining operations ceased in this area in 2000-2001. Water levels in this well may remain steady or <br />start to rise in WY 2006, due to natural recharge. <br />The casing in Well 96-27-1 collapsed between September 2001 and April 2002 and the casing in <br />Well So.W.-1 collapsed between April and June 2002. As a result, these wells axe no longer <br />functional. <br />The water level in monitoring Well SOM C-76, installed in the F-Seam, has dropped over 30 feet <br />since WY 2003, including a 15 foot drop observed in WY 2005. This is most likely the result of <br />September 2006 HydroGeo, IItC. <br />