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West Elk Mine 2004 Annual Hydrology Report 37 The mining activities a[ the West Elk Mine have shifted to the east and south away from the west. The current mining operations are being developed in the Box Canyon and Deep Creek drainage areas in longwall panel 23. Development mining is proceeding in longwall panel 24 (see Map 1). Future plans involve the longwall mining of the B and E coal seams in the South of the Divide permit area and the Dry Fork and West Flatiron LBA areas. Mining in the central portion of the Project (Southwest Panel area, Panel 13) was completed in 2001. The Northwest Panel area mining was completed in 1995 (Panel 7) and the far west side of the mine, the Jumbo Panels, (Panels 8 and 9) were completed in 1997. As the Project's mining operations shift from the west side of the Project area to the south and east, the Project's hydrologic monitoring system must be revised accordingly. A hydrologic monitoring program must be established for areas to be mined in the future, so baseline data can be collected prior to the commencement of mining. Once mining begins, the revised monitoring program will be utilized to monitor potential mining-related impacts. Since 1999, mining-related hydrologic impacts in the Gribble Gulch azea (westem Project area) have not been observed or have returned to pre-mining condition. As a result, the hydrologic monitoring sites in this area no longer need to be routinely checked (MCC, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). Reducing the monitoring requirements in the Gribble Gulch azea and expanding the monitoring system in the south and east portions of the Project area is highly recommended. The existing monitoring program and subsequent revisions do not effectively cover the eastern edge of the Project area. MCC is in the process of developing a revised comprehensive monitoring plan for the future mine development plans in the South of the Divide permit area and in the Dry Fork and West Flatiron LBA areas. The revised comprehensive monitoring plan will include new surface and ground water monitoring sites along with baseline monitoring. This revised monitoring program will consider future mining plans, mine development progress, and the mine's surface water augmentation plan requirements. 6.1 Mining Related Hydrologic Impacts Since 1999, there have been no mining related hydrologic impacts reported in surface water or spring resources in the westem Project area, specifically the Gribble Gulch area (MCC, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). Gribble Gulch was undermined from 1995 to 1997, therefore, future mining related hydrologic impacts in this area are not anticipated. August 2005 HydroGeo, Inc.