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zone of the Mesaverde, that area currently being mined. Based <br /> upon this data, it appears that the unsaturated zone extends <br /> downward to an elevation of about 8000 feet . Below this <br /> elevation, the formation may become saturated and somewhat <br /> larger quantities of water can be expected to be encountered. <br /> The discharge of ground water from the Mesaverde does not occur <br /> in the vicinity of the mine plan adjacent area with the <br /> exception of seasonal pumping of nine discharge water. The <br /> Mesaverde regionally dips to the west and north in a large <br /> synclinal feature. Outcrops of the coal seams in the Grand <br /> Hogback, in the Somerset and Paonia areas , along the south and <br /> west faces of Grand Mesa and north to the Book cliffs area <br /> define the outcrop of the lower portions of the Mesaverde <br /> and of the synclineal feature. Overall ground water movement <br /> is to the north and west, into the syncline. The Mesaverde <br /> is overlain by a thick sequence of younger sediments comprised <br /> of the Wasatch and Ohio Creek Conglomerate, to the immediate <br /> west of the lease area; the Wasatch and Ohio Creek Conglomerate <br /> are in turn overlain by the Green River formation, to the north <br /> and west of the lease area, in the Piceance Creek Basin. <br /> Regional ground water movement is into this basin. The <br /> Mesaverde is not used as an aquifer in the mine plan adjacent <br /> area and is not extensively used as an aquifer elsewhere in <br /> the Piceance Creek Basin. Discharge would occur regionally at <br /> a few wells and, on a highly localized basis , in areas of streams <br /> and springs . <br /> 19 <br />