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identifiable impact to surface water quality or quantity is evident in the data collected <br />and reported. <br />Ground Water Quantitv and Qualit <br />The Division acknowledges the explanation of the elevation discrepancy regarding the <br />New Elk Mine. Should future mining activities occur, a correction of wellhead elevation, <br />water depths, and elevation of the underground workings would seem in order. Water <br />levels in the mine workings apparently changed very little during 2008 until pumping <br />started in December that dramatically reduced water levels. Quality remains unchanged <br />as compared to previous water samples of the flooded workings. <br />Alluvial water levels, as indicated in wells PAW-1 upstream of the mine and PAW-9 <br />downstream of the mine, continue to show normal variation due to seasonal influences <br />and no impact to alluvial water levels can be identified at this time. Alluvial water <br />_., ,,L,. _....... <br />I:a.lty..generally remains slIig:... haltly .. ..,........ more salIi..."ne than ... ah1....e surface sullace water, 1ater, which 4:..L recharges <br />quality <br />the alluvium, but is within an acceptable range for all known and current uses. <br />Quality changes due to mining are not apparent. Some alluvial water quality changes <br />would be expected due to the large amount of pre-law coal waste deposited in direct <br />contact with alluvial and surface waters. Water quality degradation from upstream <br />(PAW-1) to downstream (PAW-9) is again apparent but alluvial water quality at PAW-9 <br />remains relatively good and is acceptable for all uses. No impact to alluvial water from <br />mining activities is apparent. <br />Summary <br />Monitoring frequency compliance was excellent in 2008. Surface water quantity and <br />quality changes are small to non-existent, and due to the possibility of only limited <br />discharge, surface water impacts are not anticipated. Analysis of mine inflow and <br />flooding continues but water levels will likely be modified in the future by continued <br />pumping, which began in late December 2008. Ground water quantity impacts are not <br />apparent or could not be determined due to uncertainty and accuracy of flooding and <br />inflows. <br />Please make the changes shown in bold above in future reports. If you have any <br />questions, please call me. <br />Sincerely, <br />7 <br />Kent Gorham <br />Environmental Protection Specialist III <br />