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Wolf Creek/Wadge Interburden <br />SCC installed one well (3EI) to monitor the interburden within the original permit <br />area. The interburden consists of 165 to 215 feet of interbedded sandstone, shale, <br />siltstone and coal, thus forming a relatively impermeable zone between the underlying <br />Wolf Creek coal and the overlying Wadge coal. <br />Monitoring data for the well were presented in the permit application. Depth to water <br />measurements at this well were made for about 22 months. This data not only shows <br />very little seasonal fluctuation, but that the interburden at this site is under unconfined <br />or water table conditions. This is not an expected characteristic because both the Wolf <br />Creek coal and the Wadge coal, at least seasonally, exhibit artesian head at this site. It <br />is possible that this well was not properly completed, or that a perched aquifer was <br />intercepted by the well. Seneca Coal Company has subsequently abandoned this well. <br />Based on analysis of the Wolf Creek and Wadge coal, it is expected that water within <br />the interburden, as in the other units, will exhibit confined conditions downdip of the <br />Sage Creek anticlinal axis. <br />No water quality sampling was done in the interburden, in the original permit area. <br />Refer to discussion related to Sage Creek overburden and Wolf Creek overburden <br />regarding sampling of strata below the Wadge seam within the south extension area. <br />Wolf Creek Overburden/Underburden <br />Wells WWCOV24 (overburden) and WWCU24 (underburden) were drilled in August <br />2001 in the II-W South area adjacent to the Pond 016A embankment. The wells failed <br />due to a landslide in the spring of 2003 and were subsequently abandoned. Both were <br />flowing wells. Initial OV24 samples displayed a CaMg-HC03 type water with TDS <br />values of 550 and 720 mg/l. U24 initial samples displayed a Na-HCO3SO4 type water <br />with TDS values of 1180 and 2380 mg/1. Replacement wells (WWCOV25 and <br />WWCU25) were drilled in the summer of 2004. <br />Sage Creek Coal <br />Mining of the Sage Creek seam began in September 2003, in the south extension area. <br />Well WSC24 was drilled in August 2001 in the II-W South area adjacent to the Pond <br />016A embankment. The well failed due to a landslide in the spring of 2003 and was <br />subsequently abandoned. Only five samples were collected. WSC24 was a flowing <br />well. Initial samples displayed a Na-HCO3SO4 type water, with TDS values of 770 <br />and 1190 mg11. A replacement well (WSC25) was drilled in the summer oil 2004. <br />Sage Creek Overburden <br />Seneca II-W Findings Document 30 C1982057 <br />Permit Renewal No. 5 December 9, 2010