2009-09-11_REVISION - C1981035 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1981035
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 9/11/2009
• Doc Name: Summary of Technical Adequacy Review Memo
• From: Tom Kaldenbach
• To: File
• Type & Sequence: TR17
• Email Name: TAK
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

_;P 3 STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203 C O L O RA D O
D I V I S I O N OF
Phone: [phone] RECLAMATION
FAX: [phone] MINING

MEMO
J SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
September 11, 2009 Governor
Harris D. Sherman
TO' File Executive Director
King Coal Mine (C-1981-035) Ronald W. Cattany
TR-1 7 Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
l y
From: Tom Kaldenbach
Re: Summary of Technical Adequacy Review
The mine operator proposes in TR-17 to suspend monitoring of its only bedrock ground water well until
two years prior to submittal of a bond release application. The well is the privately-owned Haugen water
supply well. It is located approximately 5,000 downdip from the King I Mine workings. The Haugen
well has not been sampled since 2007 due to lack of access. The missing data has not impaired the
assessment of hydrologic impacts. Monitoring will continue in the Hay Gulch alluvial ground water well.
My review finds TR-17 ready for approval, based on compliance with all Rules (as discussed below). No
comments have been received. No additional bond is required, and no additional disturbance is proposed.
The Haugen bedrock well is completed in a regional aquifer about 250 ft. stratigraphically below the mine
workings, the Point Lookout Sandstone. This well provided monitoring data between late 2000 and early
2007. Data in annual hydrology reports indicate no impacts to the ground water in the Haugen well from
mining at the King Mines. Text on permit page 7 of the King I Mine permit volume has been revised to
reflect the proposed suspension of monitoring,and requires the operator to submit a Technical Revision
prior to resuming downgradient bedrock monitoring so the Division can evaluate the adequacy of
monitoring.
It appears unlikely the King I and II Mines will significantly fill with water during mining or after
mining ceases, based on the observed historically dry conditions of these mines. The workings of the
King I Mine have been dry (with the exception of a short time in early 1986) and drillholes in the
overburden at both mines have been dry. (Water for the mines' dust and fire control is pumped from an
alluvial well and an old well of unknown depth.) As shown in the attached hydrogeologic cross-section,
both mines probably are above the regional saturated zone of bedrock stratigraphic units. Travel-time
for ground water over the approximate 5,000-foot distance between the King Mines permit boundary
and the Haugen well would be on the order of 50 years, assuming a ground water flow velocity of 100
feet per year. Transverse and longitudinal dispersion would likely dilute any gob leachate to near pre-
mining quality before it reached the Haugen well location.
Suspension of monitoring of the Haugen well will not impair the determination of impact on the
hydrologic balance required by 2.05.6(3)(b)(iv) and 4.05.13(1)(c) because the King Mine operation lacks
the potential to negatively impact the Point Lookout Sandstone. A ground water point of compliance in
the Point Lookout Sandstone is not warranted (Rule 4.05.13(1)(b)) because of the lack of negative impact
to this unit.
cc: Dan Hernandez
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines