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away" (5 to 13 feet in this instance). The Division considers it is extremely <br />unlikely that damage to an aquifer 450 feet below the blasted sequence will <br />occur. If it does occur, the wells that would be affected would likely be those <br />belonging to GCC Rio Grande, located nearer than the Blake Ranch well. <br />AQUIFERS The Dakota aquifer is approximately 450 feet below the Fort <br />Hayes Limestone, the targeted formation. The Cheyenne aquifer is below the <br />Dakota. Blasting in the pit is not expected to affect either aquifer, as the forces <br />of explosion are primarily transmitted toward the `free face" and upward from <br />the borehole containing explosives. While vibrations will be transmitted <br />downward, the confining force of the rock overlying the Dakota aquifer will not <br />allow fractures to open or any offset to develop in the Dakota aquifer. <br />Therefore the proposed operation is not anticipated to cause damage to the <br />Dakota Aquifer. <br />The above two explanations above also answer the question of damage to the <br />shale layer underlying the Saint Charles River. It is extremely unlikely that the <br />Saint Charles alluvial aquifer can be affected by the blasting operation. <br />The applicant has complied with the requirements of Rule 6.5(4). <br />IV. ISSUES NOT TO BE CONSIDERED <br />All other issues raised by the parties that are not included in the list above will not <br />be considered by the Board, either because the concern has been addressed or <br />because the issue is outside the jurisdiction and authority of the Board under the <br />Construction Materials Act. <br />10