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1 <br /> <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />William J. Carter Mazch 12, 1998 <br />Re: Response to Susan Burgmaier's comments on the 1996 Annual Hydrologic Report <br />Monitoring of WSC DH12 is done to determine if the abandoned Hawk's Nest Mine is flooded. <br />The collaz elevation for WSC DH 12 from the Hawk's Nest Mine map is 7562. The E-Seam, <br />Hawk's Nest Mine elevation in the vicinity of WSC DH12 is approximately 6015. The lowest <br />elevation from the E-Seam, Hawk's Nest Mine map is 5877, neaz the north limit of mining. The <br />Hawk's Nest East portal elevation is 6176. <br />The issue of mining under potentially flooded mine workings was first raised by the Division of <br />Minerals and Geology in the June 22, 1992 Preliminary Adequacy Review for Permit Revision <br />Number 2, the addition of the Sanborn Creek East Tract, Federal Lease Number COC 53510. <br />Somerset Mining Company's initial response on July 23, 1992 was any potential inflow from the <br />abandoned mine workings above would be controlled and pumped to [he surface. Somerset Mining <br />Company added WSC DH12 to the monitoring schedule September 16, 1992 to monitor the water <br />level in the Hawk's Nest Mine. At that time, the drill hole was determined to be dry. <br />WSC DH12 was chosen as the monitoring well for [he Hawk's Nest Mine because it was the lowest <br />in elevation of the remaining open drill holes into the Hawk's Nest Mine. The rest of the remaining <br />open drill holes into the Hawk's Nest Mine were "reclaimed" by the Division of Minerals and <br />Geology in 1994. There is conflicting information in the records available as to whether the <br />Hawk's Nest Mine is potentially flooded, and a difference in opinion as to whether mining beneath <br />the Hawk's Nest Mine will be a major problem for the Sanbom Creek Mine. <br />' Information from the Hawk's Nest Mine pemrit document, dated February 1982, while the mine <br />was operating, indicates the coal seam and the mine was dry, although slurry from the coal <br />prepazation plant was pumped into abandoned portions of the mine. The mine inflow map shows <br />' very little inflow into the mine. Mining ceased at the Hawk's Nest Mine in February 1983. <br />Information from the June 22, 1992 Preliminary Adequacy Review for Permit Revision Number 2, <br />based on a June 10, 1987 inspection, indicates the mine is at least partially flooded. <br />' Sanbom Creek Mine has had the capability of sampling WSC DH 12 ever since monitoring the well <br />has been required by the Division of Minerals and Geology. Monitoring equipment for all <br />' groundwater wells consists of an electrical cable and meter which indicates depth to water and a <br />baler and rope to collect a water sample. Obtaining a reliable and accurate measurement of depth to <br />water on 1,500 feet of electrical cable is difficult at best. Also, after the bailer and several hundred <br />' feet of rope aze lowered into the well, it is not possible to detemtine exactly when the baler reaches <br />the bottom of the well. Therefore, more than enough rope, from the 2,500 feet of rope on the reel, <br />is lowered into the hole to reach the bottom. <br />t Monitoring of WSC DH12 in 1993, 1994, and 1995 indicated the well to be dry. On June 21, <br />1995, I monitored WSC DH12 and attempted to collect a sample from the well. The bailer was <br />retrieved from the well with mud on the outside, but not enough water to take any measurements. <br />On June 17, 1996, Mark Milner monitored WSC DH 12 and attempted to collect a sample from the <br />2 <br />!\ <br />1 <br />