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<br />• <br />• <br />GROUND WATER MONTTORING <br />Bedrock <br />Four wells in the Wadge Overburden (which includes the Wadge Coal) are monitored. <br />The wells aze in the vicinity of Mines No. 1 and Eckman Pazk. <br />Water Levels <br />Water levels in the four Mine No. 1 Wadge Overburden wells have been measured <br />since 1979 (Figures 4 through 6). The water levels generally drop when strip mining <br />occurs nearby, but recover when the azea is backfilled. The data indicates that the <br />water levels in the Wadge overburden vary seasonally, with levels typically rising <br />following Spring snowmelt and recharge and then declining through the summer, fall <br />and winter. <br />The water quality data for the Mine No. 1 Wadge Overburden wells is summarized on <br />Tables 4 through 10. A plot of dissolved solids is presented on Figure 7. The baseline <br />water quality of the Wadge Overburden is characterized by asodium-bicarbonate type <br />water with a dissolved solids level of approximately 550 mg/1. Elevated dissolved <br />solids levels in well 009-79-4, 026-79-4 and 006-82-74C appeazs to coincide with water <br />level recovery following backfilling and reclamation, indicating that they are effected <br />by seepage from the spoils aquifer. Wells showing elevated the dissolved solids tend to <br />also have elevated sulfate, calcium and magnesium and reduced SAR compared with <br />undisturbed Wadge Overburden groundwater chemistry. This is consistent with mixing <br />with spoils water which is characterized by elevated total dissolved solids, sulfate, <br />calcium and magnesium as discussed below. The data does not indicate any significant <br />Water Oualitv <br />changes in the trace metals concentrations. <br />- 3 - <br />