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well site location would monitor the three saturated bed rock zones (OB, Coal, and UB). The <br />well site would be located in the southwestern-most part of the permit area and would be located <br />immediately down gradient from the limit of mining disturbance. WFC has agreed to construct <br />the three new wells and has already consulted with the Division on the location of the additional <br />nested well site. The new well site would be installed after permit approval and prior to any <br />disturbance associated with NHN. Point of compliance well(s) may be required. Because the <br />groundwater occurring in these isolated saturated zones in the Dakota Formation is potentially <br />usable it must be monitored and the extent and magnitude of any mining impacts must be <br />determined. It is anticipated that this new nested well site would become the points of <br />compliance for the three strata (OB, Coal, and UB), if deemed appropriate. <br /> <br />The drainages developed within the NHN permit area are developed on the weathered dip slope <br />of the northeast limb of the Nucla Syncline. The primary drainage in the NHN permit area is <br />Meehan Draw which is developed on bedrock. There is essentially no alluvial groundwater <br />present within the permit area. No alluvial wells were installed due to the lack of alluvium. <br /> <br />There is also no proposed monitoring of confined bedrock groundwater for the NHN site. The <br />most prolific aquifer in the area is the Brushy Basin Member of the underlying Morrison <br />Formation, which is the uppermost sandstone of that formation. The Brushy Basin Member is <br />well below and isolated from the LDx overburden, coal, and under-burden zones by tight <br />siltstone and shale of the lower Dakota Formation and mudstone of the Burro Canyon Formation. <br />Since there is no potential to impact the underlying aquifer, no monitoring of confined bedrock <br />beneath the Dakota formation is required. <br /> <br />Present groundwater use in the vicinity of the NHN Mine is limited to wells constructed in the <br />underlying Morrison Formation which is separated and confined from the overlying Dakota <br />Formation. Records of the State Engineers Office of the Division of Water Resources of the <br />Colorado Department of Natural Resources were reviewed to determine the number and location <br />of water wells that have been constructed (drilled) within a one (1) mile radius of the NHN <br />proposed permit boundary. Thirty three (33) wells were identified and are located as shown on <br />Map 2.04.7-8 in the permit document. Table 2.04.7-4 is a list of these wells showing the permit <br />numbers, locations, depth, yield, static water level, well owner or applicant and the <br />formation/suspected aquifer zone in which each well has been completed. Three of these “wells” <br />are water monitoring holes that were constructed by Peabody (in the Dakota Formation) and <br />transferred (through the State Engineers Office) to Montrose County for their landfill. None of <br />the wells within a one mile radius of the NHN permit boundary draws its water from the Dakota <br />Formation, LDx overburden, coal, or under-burden zones. The Division agrees with WFC’s <br />assessment that there are no current users for the relatively small amount of groundwater that <br />moves through the shallow bedrock zones, overburden, coal and under-burden toward the crop <br />line/outcrop to the southwest. <br /> <br />Springs and Seeps <br /> <br />Three springs were defined within and in close proximity to the southern part of the NHN permit <br />area by Peabody at the old Nucla Mine, (see Map 2.04.7-1). Two of these springs were at the toe <br />of the old backfill area (spoils) while the third was a spring issuing from the high-wall of the <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />