2012-08-08_HYDROLOGY - C1981014

• Permit No: C1981014
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 8/8/2012
• Doc Name: Rehabilitation of Monitoring Well MW-NW
• From: DRMS
• To: Energy Fuels Coal, Inc
• Permit Index Doc Type: Other Ground Water
• Email Name: JHB
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
August 8, 2012
Mr. George Patterson
Energy Fuels Coal, Inc.
Southfield Mine
Florence, CO 81226
Re: Southfield Mine, C1981 -014, Rehabilitiation of Monitoring Well MW -NW
Dear Mr. Patterson:
COLORADO
Q I V I S I O N O F
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
John W. Hickenlooper
Governor
Mike King
Executive Director
Loretta E. Pineda
Director
The Division has instructed Energy Fuels Coal, Inc. of the need to assure that groundwater
monitoring well MW -NW continues to function as designed. MW -NW is located in Township
70W, Range 20S, NW1 /4SWl /4 Section 19, and is a part of the approved water monitoring plan
for the Southfield Mine (Exhibit 25).
With Approval of TR -35, October 6, 2003, the North Well was converted from a mine
dewatering well to a groundwater monitoring well, and designated MW -NW. The MW -NW
well was included in the Southfield ground watering monitoring plan. The MW -NW well is
reported to intercept the Southfield workings in the Red Arrow coal seam and the bottom of the
well is noted by Energy Fuels as 380 feet below ground surface in the 1 St North Mains. (TR35).
Groundwater well MW -NW is the only groundwater monitoring well that intercepts the
Southfield Mine underground workings. Division hydrologist, Kent Gorham, previously
identified the importance of monitoring this well to provide information regarding the elevation
of the mine pool and the water quality in the mine pool.
The Division lowered a down -hole camera (GeoVision Jr. down hole video system) into MW-
NW on May 15, 2012. At 336.2 feet below the ground surface the camera encountered a tangle
of steel cable. Due to the tangle of steel cable in this well, the Division cannot conclude that
water level measurements (or lack of encountering water) are measuring the well to the bottom
of the well (or to the mine workings). Due to this obstruction of cable in the well, the Division
can conclude that Energy Fuels water level readings document that well MW -NW is dry to 336.2
feet below the ground surface. Since this monitoring well is intended to measure the elevation of
water as the mine workings fill, the current condition of the well does not allow for confident
results from 380 feet (top of the mine workings) to 336.2 feet below the ground surface.
The Division has previously asked Energy Fuels needs to remove the cable and any other
obstruction from groundwater monitoring well MW -NW in accordance with Rule 4.05.13(1)(i).
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