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Chapter IV <br />Formation and do not intend to initiate work on this unit <br />for at least 2 years. The lack of data on the Mesaverde <br />Formation (with the exception of the work done by <br />Brogden and Giles USGS Water Resources <br />Investigation 76 -70) was further confirmed by USGS <br />Personnel. The estimates of transmissivity (ranging <br />from 10 -2 to 1 foot per day) and estimates of specirfic <br />yields (ranging from 5% to 7%) were based upon an <br />evaluation of the grain size distribution of the major <br />sands in the formations, upon notations made on <br />exploratory drilling records concerning water production <br />from this unit, and upon records of water production <br />from the mine. These values were not arrived at <br />analytically; however, we feel they are reasonable <br />figures for the Mesaverde Formation. For reasons <br />previously discussed, we do not feel the construction of <br />1,000 to 3,000 foot deep wells west of Huntsman Ridge <br />to gather transmissivity data is justified. It is expected <br />that environmental damage caused by the construction <br />of access roads, and by the drilling operations would far <br />exceed any potential damage to the Mesaverde aquifer <br />caused by mining." <br />— "Although this discussion does not provide all the data <br />requested by the state, all the available data were <br />presented in our report. We hope this discussion <br />clarifies some of the points brought up in the adequacy <br />review and presents a justification for not pursuing <br />additional drilling and test well development in the <br />Mesaverde Formation." <br />Other units of the Mesaverde that lie above the mineable coal seams, such as <br />mudstones, siltstones, etc. predominate in the formation and are not considered <br />aquifers. <br />2. Description of Worst Possible <br />Consequences Which Subsidence <br />Could Have on Structures and <br />Renewable Resource Lands. <br />a. Description of Pre and Post Mining Land <br />Uses of the Permit and Adjacent Areas. <br />28 <br />