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West Elk Mine 2007 Annual Hydrology Report 50 <br />• A multi-year drought was abated with below but near normal precipitation in WY 2003 and WY <br />2004. Continued improvements in climatic conditions in WY 2005, WY 2006, and WY 2007 <br />resulted in slightly below to near average precipitation which gave rise to slightly below to near <br />average flows in area streams. Spring flows in the Project area in WY 2007 were generally higher <br />than in the five years before WY 2006, but still remain generally below historic norms. <br />The static water levels in most of the ground water monitoring wells have remained relatively <br />constant over time, in some cases showing only seasonal variations. However, monitoring wells <br />located above-or down-gradient of active longwall mining operations often show lowered water <br />levels. Since mining commenced in the Box Canyon Panel area water levels in monitoring wells <br />01-11-1 and RAV 4b, both located down-gradient of active mining, have dropped up to 100 feet, <br />likely the result of dewatering of the B-Seam. <br />The well casings have collapsed in seven ground water monitoring wells: SOM-45-H1 (Sept. <br />2002), SOM-2-H (Jul. 1999), SOM-16-H (Sep. 2000), 96-27-1 (Apr. 2002), SO.W-1 (Jun. 2002), <br />and SOM 13 (Jun. 2007), most likely due to mine-induced subsidence. The collapsed casing in <br />well SOM-23-H-1 (Aug. 2006) is most likely due to poor well construction. Future monitoring of <br />these damaged wells is not feasible in the future. <br /> <br /> <br />• <br />June 2008 HydroGeo, Inc.