1989-03-23_REPORT - C1981012 (2)

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3. 2 Ground Water Seven wells in the Purgatoire River alluvium and one well in each of Apache and Ciruela Canyons were monitored quarterly during 1988 . Generally, wells within the Purgatoire alluvium responded directly to the level of water in the river. Wells in the two canyons responded primarily to precipitation received in the drainage. All data is contained in Table 2-1 through 2-8 of Appendix 1 . Table 2-9 summarizes all data collected over the previous four years of monitoring. Wells PAW-1 and PAW-2 were established to monitor the existing refuse pile at the New Elk Mine . The summary presented in Table 2-9 indicates some differences in water quality between the two wells . PAW-2 has a higher ionization of the water and higher concentrations of TDS, conductivity, iron, manganese, sodium, sulfate, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. PAW-1 is a calcium-bicarbonate water. Water in PAW-2 is a mixed calcium/sodium-bicarbonate type. Metals analyzed for PAW-1 were near or below detection limits while iron and manganese was elevated at station PAW-2 . These elevated levels indicate that the coal refuse is leaching into the alluvial aquifer. During March and April of 1985, 500 feet of the Middle Fork of the Purgatoire River was diverted to the north to create additional room for the coal stockpile at the New Elk Preparation Plant. As the diversion was cut through an existing refuse disposal area, two alluvial wells have been established to monitor water elevation and chemical parameters. Monitoring began in April of 1985 with the data presented in Tables 2-3 and 2-4 of Appendix 1 for stations PAW-3 and PAW-4, respectively. The wells were cased with 18 inch galvanized CMP and completed in the cobble and gravel fill of the channel . Total depth of PAW-3 is approximately 20 feet from the top of the casing. Total depth of PAW-4 is approximately 15 feet from the top of the casing. Static water level in both wells corresponds closely with -17-