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• II.C.3.h Groundwater Monitoring Program The Deserado Mine groundwater monitoring program <br />originally consisted of monitoring water levels and quality in the bedrock and in the White River alluvium. <br />This program included hydrology monitoring from eleven (11) bedrock monitoring sites and hydrology <br />monitoring of six (6) White River alluvium sites. The location of sites presently being monitored is shown on <br />Map 137. Table II.C-12 shows which zones are monitored at which site and where water samples are <br />collected and water levels measured. Since ground water monitoring began in 1981, several events have <br />occurred which have changed the monitoring program. Table II.C-13 gives the current hydrologic <br />monitoring parameters. <br />In the fall of 1984, Kenney Reservoir behind the Taylor Draw Dam was filled and the resulting rising water <br />flooded and destroyed five of the six alluvial monitor holes. Only one alluvial monitor hole (Qal-5) is now <br />being monitored. Monitor hole 2-17L was cemented in October of 1985 as the hole was bypassed by <br />mining. The hole was cemented to prevent rapid discharge of water from the hole into the mine workings. <br />This monitor hole was replaced by drilling and completing a new hole in 1986 in the general vicinity of the <br />other 2-17 holes. <br />Monitor hole 2-12U was located near the center of longwall panel No. 1. This hole showed a significant <br />drop in water levels that corresponded in Ume with the passage of the longwall and subsequent <br />subsidence. Subsidence caused cracks, etc. obviously disrupted the "upper sandstone facies" piezometric <br />levels locally. The water level somewhat recovered and appeared to have stabilized. However, this data <br />• was questionable and 2-12U was dropped from the monitoring program. Well 2-17M was replaced by Well <br />2-17TWM due to the plugging of the holes, apparently, by sloughing of the wall of the well. <br />The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division in October of 1984 relaxed the monitoring requirements for <br />those monitor holes located in Federal Coal leases C-8424 and C-8425 with the stipulation that monitoring <br />would again resume at these holes. The resumption of monitoring at holes located at sites 29-4, 30-8, 31-7, <br />32-7, and 33-8 was to begin one year prior to any mining activity in the lease in which the holes were <br />located. Water samples from the middle coal facie zone were to be collected and analyzed prior to entering <br />these leases. BME resumed monitoring of these wells in 1996 and collected and analyzed water samples <br />as required. Well 31-7 is an upgradient well and will not be mined out. This well will be sampled one more <br />Ume within one year prior to bond release. The remaining wells are located within the longwall extraction <br />area and will be sampled one more Ume prior to mining through them. This will provide valuable <br />information because these wells are located down gradient and in some cases will not be mined out for ten <br />years. Each of the remaining wells will be sampled within six months prior to being mined out. Wells 29~, <br />30-8, 32-7 and 33-8 are scheduled to be mined out. These wells will be sampled once before they are <br />mined out for the alluvial well parameters listed on Table II.C-13. Water levels of all bedrock monitor holes <br />identified above will be measured annually during the summer (June 15 -September 15). <br />• Mine Permit Renewal #3 (Rev. 1/00) II.C-73 <br />