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<br />'_.~..."- <br /> <br />-'~--'''~'''''''~.-'''"-- <br /> <br />" F'_""'.""';"'.."."., -",-,- <br /> <br />SENT BY: BOR-WCAOS SDj <br />,,~..,t.lVlU; 0"\0'.0; IU:it4Ar.ti <br /> <br />8-16-96 4:54PMj 970 385 6539 -> <br />.. 8OR.IlCAD8 SOl 120 <br /> <br />303 866 4474; <br /> <br />#19/22 <br /> <br />SWQBINMBD Summary <br />August 12, 1996 <br />Page 17 <br /> <br />Table SJ-2 (psIse B-IS3) This table shows Ihe projected ~hange6 in water quality in the San Juan <br />River at Farminaton. Shiprock III1d Bluff after the various phues, The projection show slight <br />incxeases ill l;Opper, silver and ;zinc and decreases or no changes for mcre\I!Y, selenium I11d mcnic. <br />II ia impoMible to see how i1Jcreued iniption rcl\Im. flows from lands high in selenium will lCsult <br />in decreaar.s of ~leniwn downstn:am in the Sm l\1ll1l River. Here apin, since the currenl <br />projections have already been demomdrlltrxi to "'81)' widely &om actual levels, no real credence can <br />be given to these pmliction:l, <br /> <br />Table 51-4 (pepS-1S1) Tbistableshowathe projected want-case effec:u of the Animu-LaPlata <br />Project on thl!: selenium level! in the 8M Juan River. Levels of selenium in the San Juan River at <br />Shiprock will inc:rease fiocm 21 to 3.~ percent over CurteRt levels, Since the current projections have <br />already been demonstrated to UIlderestimatll current selenium levels, no real CI1ldence can be given <br />to these predictions. WI IIIMSt 1U1""" III", III, projlct would resull b1liflliflCtlJll new lotlIb qf <br />s,I'lIium wllicll ct11l1ll ,"III, ill C9l1C'nlTGlioflS /", In .xc_ of wlllll BOR projcr:ts. <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />The Willer Quality Appendix, the Soils and Trace Element Analysis Appendix and the Conm",i1fQ1f/ <br />Impact Assessment of'II. Animt/s Liz Plata P,ojtcr prepared by the National BioloJ;!ical Service, <br />""iU1e :utemptins; to divert attention away from the major COIlCemS with Rleniwn and mcrcw:y, .till <br />conclude that significmt incr_ in these two elements will occur in the La Plata River as a re$u1t <br />of the consl1'Uction and operation of the: Animas-I.. Plata Project, The FSFES fot the Animas-La <br />Plata Project concludes differently. "The State of New Mexico bas indicated that no decision on <br />consistency with State WIlter quality standards can be made UTltil the FSFES and 404(b )(1) <br />AlllmlatiYa are reviCMd. Studies compleled by RecJamation indicate 1hat operation of the Project <br />in colljunction with the pwposed mitigation activities would not "'""'" AnV significant chanl1e in <br />WIlIer (lllality_" [Ell:1phasis added] .46/"u bH. NFIU;wly _"Mllld IIb01lC, w, 4f) rrot 1lfUe. <br /> <br />Dy uaina dissolved selenium I11d di550lved. meroW)', the Warer Quality App"udix is attempting to <br />minimil.e the apparent negative etTccts of these clements, Also, by comparing the measured l~els <br />of dissolved selecium against the EPA chrooie 8Iluatic life criterion (S J.lgIL), fewer exc:eedances are <br />noted than If the mCl5UR1d levels were compared against the New Mexico chrom, watllr quality <br />standard (2 ",ilL). The FSFES for the Animas-La Plata Project concludes that "Se has been <br />identified as .. constituent of c:oncern, ReclamatioD concludes thaI ovetalllnAdinall WD\lld be rrrluced <br />\\-ith the operation of the ProJecl" [Emphasis added] This contradicts most of the statements <br />conccmini selenium in the Willa Quality Appendix IUld the COlllanJinanr Impact Assessmelll of the <br />.4"tmas La Plata Project, The FSFES goes on to say that "[tJemporery flUllhe5 of trace elements <br />would be probable, but would not cause problems due to hiih alkalinity and hardness condition5, <br />These conditions would cause tr_ elements 10 seale out and become bioloaically unavailable." <br />The FSFES goe5 on to eonclude "that the Proiect would not cause a m"A~ble advQ'Se iftlJ'&ct on <br /> <br />;;1)/., 2- <br />-fl., ~ <br />