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Final West Elk Mine 2005 Annual Hydrology Report 40 <br />• seasonal variation or possibly mining operations in the Northeast Panel area. Water levels will <br />likely rise in Well SOM C-76 after mining operations cease in this area. <br />The water level rose by 7 feet in monitoring well SOM-3E in WY 2005. However, this observation <br />is suspect, because two of the three data points for WY 2005 showed the continuing and consistent <br />declining water level trend observed in previous years. <br />Monitoring Well SOM-129-H showed a rise of about 50 feet in water levels early in WY 2002, <br />remained high in WY 2004 and rose sharply (44 feet) in WY 2005. The source of the most recent <br />sharp water level increase in not believed to be due to mining activities and may be the result of <br />measurement error. <br />Monitoring Well RAV-4b, completed in the B-Seam, had a sharp drop in water level of about 36 <br />feet in WY 2003, remained steady in WY 2004, and dropped again in WY 2005 (20 feet). The <br />lowering of the ground water level in this well is likely due to mining of the Northeast Panel azea <br />and dewatering of the B-Seam. The water level in this well will likely continue to fall in WY 2006. <br />Monitoring Well 01-11-1, completed in the B-Seam, showed a rise in water level from November <br />2001 to April 2002, but has steadily dropped about 80 feet over the ensuing period through <br />• September 2005. This is likely due to mining and dewatering of the B-Seam. The static water <br />level in this well may continue to fall in WY 2006. <br />Monitoring Well SOM-3B, installed in the B-Seam, is located up-gradient of current mining <br />operations. The water level in this well has steadily dropped about 15 feet in 2 years. This change <br />may be the result of natural seasonal variation or possibly the result of down gradient dewatering of <br />the B-Seam during mining operations. <br />Monitoring Well 23-H-1 completed in the B-Seam, showed water level fluctuations of 40 feet <br />during the baseline data collection period in WY 2005. The casing of this well is believed to be <br />compromised or broken and water levels may be influenced by shallow ground water inflows and <br />are not representative of impacts related to the B-Seam ground water zone. <br />No other monitoring wells showed significant water level changes during WY 2005. <br />6.0 ADEQUACY OF THE MONITORING PROGRAM <br />Since 1999 the West Elk Mine hydrologic monitoring program has operated in accordance with <br />Technical Revision No. 88 (approved in August 1999) and Minor Revision No. 208 (approved <br />January 1998). The hydrologic monitoring program in WY 2005 remained the same as WY 2004 <br />September 2006 HydroGeq Inc. <br />