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<br />I <br />II <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />003847 <br /> <br />b) Monitoring: There are three main objectives for monitoring water quality: 1) to evaluate <br />changes in the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water that will occur <br />as a result of Project operation, 2) to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures to <br />offset water quality impacts that will result from Project operation and 3) to ensure water <br />quality avoidance and minimization measures for erosion control and stormwater <br />management are employed through the administration of the Project's construction <br />contracts and the measures are being effective. <br />i) Animas River: Specific water quality monitoring objectives for the Animas River <br />will be to 1) characterize and evaluate effects to water quality resulting from <br />acti vities associates with construction of the project, 2) characterize and evaluate <br />effects to water quality resulting from Project pumping at the Durango Pumping <br />Plant, 3) characterize and evaluate effects to water quality resulting from Ridges <br />Basin Reservoir releases via Basin Creek, and 4) provide water quality <br />information for other resource specialists. <br />(1) Sampling in the Animas River has been completed in the past to obtain baseline <br />data. Sampling will continue during the construction of project facilities to <br />evaluate the affect of construction activities and to continue to obtain baseline <br />data. Quarterly water sampling will continue at two sites on the Animas River <br />(32nd Street Bridge on the north side of Durango and at Farmington, New <br />Mexico) for major cations and anions and trace metals. Also two to four <br />suspended sediment samples will be taken during runoff to capture any flush of <br />metals in surface waters from the upper Animas River. <br />(2) Reclamation will develop, with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the States of <br />Colorado and New Mexico, and implement a program to monitor water quality in <br />the Animas River from the Durango Pumping Plant to the confluence with the <br />San Juan River for five years after the Durango Pumping Plant begins operation, <br />The program will be developed to monitor compliance with Tribal and state water <br />quality standards and criteria. <br />ii) Durango Pumping Plant Site: <br />(1) Because the site is a former Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Site, regular <br />monitoring of the water removed during dewatering operations will be required. <br />The contractor will be required to prepare and implement, if necessary, a <br />contingency plan for treating the water removed during excavation in the event <br />that groundwater contamination levels exceed anticipated limits, <br />(2) Near the construction site of the Durango Pumping Plant, surface water samples <br />will be taken from the Animas River at three locations (upstream of pumping <br />plant at bridge by U. S. Highway 160/550 intersection, at the pumping plant site, <br />and downstream of the pumping plant site (BMX track) and analyzed for major <br />cations and anions, trace metals, and radiometrics on a monthly basis through the <br />period that the Durango Pumping Plant is being constructed. <br />(3) At the Durango Pumping Plant site observation holes DH-ll0, -112, -114, -115,- <br />116, and DOE 892 (6 wells) will be sampled quarterly and analyzed for major <br />cations and anions, trace metals, and radiometrics through the period that the <br />Durango Pumping Plant is being constructed. Also, at the Durango Pumping <br />Plant site, the groundwater in the excavation will be sampled for major cations <br /> <br />11 <br />