2008-08-25_HYDROLOGY - C1981008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Caa8' RECEIVED Ms. Marcia Talvitie Reclamation Specialist Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Groundwater Monitoring Holes Dear Ms. Tavitie, Director of. Engineering and Contracts As you are aware, Western Fuels-Colorado is initiating a baseline monitoring program in the area known as New Horizon Adjacent North that is located north of the New Horizon Mine. This baseline monitoring is in support of our efforts to permit that area for future mining. We have submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to CDRMS for the drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring holes at three locations. These sites are located outside the mine permit boundary. The NOI is based on a plan (locations and construction details) that were sent by email to Mike Boulay of CDRMS for his review and comment on July 10, 2008 and to which he concurred in a phone conversation with George O'Hara on July 14, 2008. In the plan, three groundwater monitoring holes would be drilled at each site, i.e. one in the overburden, one in the coal, and one in the under burden. The attached map shows the general location of each of the three sites. The East site will provide baseline data up dip of disturbance: The SW site will provide baseline data down dip of disturbance, and the NW site (located along strike) would provide baseline data intermediate to the up dip and down dip locations. Part of the NOI requirements are to provide threatened and endangered species clearances through the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). The CDOW identified the Western Burrowing Owl as potentially being adversely impacted by the drilling of the groundwater monitor holes. The three sites were inspected to determine if there were prairie dog colonies within 300 feet of the sites. The East site and SW site, the critical sites for baseline monitoring as they are up dip and down dip respectively, are clear as prairie dog colonies do not exist Within 300 feet of them. However, the NW site is located within 300 feet of prairie dog burrows which require either that drilling not occur until after November 1 or that a detailed survey be conducted to determine if any owls are present. We want to install the monitor holes as soon as possible so that the baseline data collection can begin. George O'Hara with Western Fuels discussed this problem with Mike Boulay of CDRMS on August 20, 2008. The critical sites, the East site and SW sites are not affected by the potential for burrowing owls. Therefore, Mike Boulay agreed that the 12 month clock on the baseline studies would begin with the monitoring of the groundwater holes installed at the East site and SW site. The installation of groundwater monitoring holes at the NW site would be completed as soon as possible, but monitoring of those holes would not affect the start of the 12 month baseline monitoring clock. AUG 2 5 2008 Uivisiai I u, rteciamation, Mining and Safety r Murari P Shrestha P• E Sincerely, PO Box 33424 ¦ Denver, CO 80233-3424 ¦ Telephone 303/254-3070 ¦ Fax 303/254-3079 ¦ 1100 West 116th Avenue ¦ Westminster, CO 80234