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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Ground water quality in the permit area has been affected by extensive underground mine workings, <br />hence, ground waters are no longer "natural", but rather have been affected by oxidation. Increased oxygen <br />in the ground water has accelerated weathering reactions of minerals present in the coal and rock strata. <br />Increased oxygen in ground water or mine waters can increase the concentration o[ iron, sodium, sulfate, <br />and bicarbonate in solution. <br />Ground water in the permit area falls into one of two groups characterized by TDS levels. High TDS <br />waters (greater than 1000 mg/I) are associated with abandoned underground workings, while low TDS ground <br />water (less than 1000 mg/1) are dominantly "natural" waters with little or no effects from [he underground <br />workings. High TDS waters are a sodium sulfate-type water, while low TDS waters range between sodium <br />bicarbonate and sodium sulfate bicarbonate waters. This variance in the low TDS water chemistries reflect <br />both changes in chemistry which normally occurs along a flow path, and the incorporation o[ a small <br />component of ground water from old underground workings. <br />Deep well water quality varies over the site from formation to formation and within formations. Three <br />wells are sampled in Hydrogeologic Sector I with the type of waters varying from a strong sodium sulfate <br />type at W82-11C to a sodium sulfate/bicarbonate type at W82-12L, to a strong sodium bicarbonate type at <br />W82-tOW. The waters are moderate to highly mineralized with moderate concentrations of iron and low <br />concentrations of trace metals. This high degree of variation is caused by the degree of oxidation from the <br />underground mine workings. Well W82-12L was monitored for water quality during firs[ quarter of 1988. <br />A summary of all data collected from the well is presented in Appendix 2. Results indicate a stable condition <br />over the five years of sampling. <br />Four wells were monitored in Sector II (W82-4L, W82-4C, W82-SR and W82-8T2). Water quality within <br />this sector compares closely. The water in all o[ the wells is a sodium bicarbonate with moderate <br />mineralization, SAR and iron concentrations. All o[ the wells exhibit low concentrations of trace metals. <br />Data [or well W82-8T2 collected over the five years of monitoring is presented in Appendix 2. Quality has <br />been consistant over the period. <br />One deep well (W82-2L) has been monitored in Sector III over the past five years. Because of the <br />technical revision approved in June 1988, water quality monitoring of the Trinidad Sandstone was moved <br />from Well 8T2 in Hydrologic Sector II to Well 15T in Hydrologic Sector IIf. Water quality of Well 15T is <br />significantly different from 8T2, being much lower in TDS, although would still be considered a sodium <br />bicarbonate water. Water quality sampled in well 2L is similar to that which was sampled in Gordon Arroyo <br />(W82-19A) in that it is a highly mineralized sodium suI(ate/bicarbonate water with moderate SAR and iron <br />concentrations, high TDS and conductivity, and low trace metals. Data collected over the past five years <br />is presented in Appendix 2. <br />Comparison of the hydrogeologic sectors within formations may be done from examining Stations W82- <br />12L, W82-4L and W82-2L in Sectors f, II, ITI and Stations W82-11C and W82-4C in Sectors I, and II, <br />respectively. Analysis indicates that the underground workings of the Cameron Seam in Sector I has <br />changed water quality from the type of water sampled in the seam in Sector ][. Water in Sector I has much <br />higher quantities of sodium, sulfate and TDS with a lower pH. <br />Waters within the Lennox Scam are also affected by the exposure time to underground workings over <br />the permit area, accounting for the variation in water quality. Sector III (Well 82-2L) exhibit higher <br />concentrations of sodium, sulfate, and TDS than in wells W82-4L and W82-12L. Metal concentrations in <br />the three wells are similar. <br /> <br />