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1 <br />' William J. Carter March 12, 1998 <br />Re: Response to Susan Burgmaier's comments on the 1996 Annual Hydrologic Report <br />1 well. The well only produced enough water to take field measurements, about 15 ml. If the well <br />had contained enough water for a lab analysis on June 17, 1996, a sample would have been <br />' collected. <br />The statement: "The text ofthe AHR notes that Site WSC DH12 was not monitored in 1996 <br />' because the low water level and well depth prohibit bailing and sampling." is not correct. In fact, <br />WSC DH12 was monitored on June 17, 1996, and again on July 23, 1996. The depth and location <br />' ofthe well makes it extremely difficult to get an accurate measurement, but does not prohibit <br />bailing and sampling. After collecting even only a very small amount of water from the well, a <br />second monitoring trip to the remote well site was made in an attempt to verify the results of the <br />' firs[ monitoring trip. <br />After the bailer and rope was lowered into the well, and was retrieved with only a very small <br />' amount of water, it indicates the well is essentially dry. If there were to be water at least 2 feet deep <br />in the well, the bailer would fill with water, and enough water to collect the sample could be taken <br />from the well. Whether the very small amount of water in the bailer was collected from the bottom <br />' of the well, or possibly from condensation in the hole as the gas rises to the surface, is unknown. <br />Sanborn Creek Mine is definitely interested in knowing if the Hawk's Nes[ Mine is flooded. The <br />' safety of the mine workers is always a primary concern, as well as the investment in the mine. <br />Cazeful consideration has been given to the possibility of a catastrophic flooding of the mine. An <br />' August 21, 1992 report by John F. Abel, Jr., "Water Communication Potential from Overlying <br />Workings at Sanborn Creek Mine" discusses [he possibility of flooding. Included in the report was <br />discussion on four underground, open drill holes between the E-Seam and the B-Seam. <br />' During January 1997, development entries were mined in the 5th North azea of the B-Seam below <br />the 6th East Mains of the E-Seam workings in the Hawk's Nest Mine, in the vicinity of WSC <br />' DH8U. The Number 1 entry passed within 80 feet of the drill hole at elevation 5590 to 5585. The <br />collaz elevation of WSC DH8U is 5984. If there were 400 feet of head on the open drill hole, there <br />is an excellent chance water would have seeped out of the ribs through cleat fractures in the B- <br />' Seam coal, however water seeping from the ribs was not observed. <br />During February 1997, Sanborn Creek Mine extracted pillazs in the 5th North area of the B-Seam <br />' below the 6th East Mains of the E-Seam workings in the Hawk's Nest Mine, in the vicinity of WSC <br />DH8U. Although bad roof conditions prevented driving rooms and pulling pillazs immediately <br />' below WSC DH8U, the roof caving in the development entries during retreat mining most certainly <br />would have developed fracture paths for water to flow from the drill hole. The 5th North azea <br />remained dry. This information does not indicate flooded mine workings above. <br />' With the current mine plan for longwall mining, 6th and 7th North were developed as headgate and <br />tailgate entries for longwall Panel 2. This area also remains dry at the present time. Approximately <br />' 3 <br />XBOW MINING /NC, <br />1 <br />