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<br />.-.....--.--=..."-. <br /> <br />.........., <br /> <br />8.16-96 4:55PMj 970 385 6539 -> <br />.. DUM.WCAOI ID; '2t <br /> <br />303 866 4474j <br /> <br />#20/22 <br /> <br />SENT BV: BOR-WCAOS SO; <br /> <br />SWQBINMED Summary <br />August 12,1996 <br />Page 18 <br /> <br />~lJ1'alitv in New Mexico or in Colondo," (Emphasis added) We do not G6"e, moreover, the <br />FSFES itself statea chat "[a]s agricultural activities increase in the area, increases In &razing animals <br />and fertilillCr .nd pesticide nmoft'1re probable. n:sulting in possible increucs in colifonn, nutrient~ <br />and pesticides in thcl L. PIaJa Rh'er." <br /> <br />It is dear that the current water quality of the Animas and La Plata riven frequently exceeds numeric <br />standards for total mercury and total lCIlOverable selenium due to historical and current <br />lII11:hropogenic oJrccls. DiIlllOlvcd selenium levds in the IuIimu River during this study reached 20 <br />1"&fL in one sample, equal to the New Mexico acute water quality standard for (Mal mcnver:oble <br />5Clenium. Selenium concentrations in the Animas River in New Mexico would be increased dlle to <br />"the greater influence oftn'butary loadings b~ause of the reduced dilution capacity," TIM:: La Plata. <br />River would be affected by increases in selcniwn and mercury from retum flows from newly <br />irrigtlted lands, This Project will incrl!ase the concentrations of these eleIMnts (lnd <br />will result in atlJiJionflland greater mRgnitud. violations o.fthe New Mexico waler <br />qWllity standards. <br /> <br />Throughout thc Willer Quality Appendix it is emphasized that !elenium is . vital nutrient and that <br />it is an antagonist to mereury, hetpina to red~ the negative effects of mcn:ury ~ontamination, <br />Whether or not this is the case (Uld . certlIin aznount of doubt needs to be is introduced) it docs not <br />excuse violatiollS of the water quality ~tandards, <br /> <br />The Project would edversely affect the water quality of the La Plata River over I Ions period, <br />possibly permanently. "Once the Project reaehes long-term equilibrium conditions, water quality <br />should not significantly ehange from that prelIent.ly obllCrY\ld, Thoro will be an Initial leach OUI <br />period for full-service irrigation areas that may produce draip water with sel~\ym coJ)=ntratioDS <br />ran~nr from 10 to ~O uglT ., In some sub-basins it is anticipated that these selenium .."".......h-'ltion. <br />could per.;.! I"" !lCVeral dee3d..... It is possible that selenlferous bedroclc could be encoWltcrcd by <br />dnLin water that could produclIl hiVhft .elcnium C(lnccntrllnons indefmitlllv," L'Emphasis added] <br />"The increase in selenium near Shiprock would be on the order of 0.6 /-lglL from 2.6 to 3.2 ",glL on <br />the average__. Based on the results of the lOillniU clement study, ;t could hole.. 20 to 30 yea"" to <br />",3"h an eqlrllihrium co..dition," (Emphasia lidded] Appll1'0lltly the higher levels mentioned in these <br />reports (deemed. "not significant'? would 0C<l\II' after equilibrium is relChed, There would be much <br />higher levels of selenium during the first 20 to 30 years, <br /> <br />The Watl!OJ Quality Appendix prodicts the quality of the future retum flows by lUla1y~ng the I:urrent <br />mum flows. 'These existing return f!oW8. which IIJ'Il the besl iDdicator of !he potential for irrigation <br />drain wlltoT to be selcni~rou.~, do. not I:OIltiliD exc."".iu:Joads 01 coll.l:enlrations of selenium." <br />[Emphasis added] Table OW-3 SUIIIllIlIizlcJ the quality of the reach iains in the La Plata River, The <br />RJoundwatcr and irrigation return flows enterina the river between Jackson Lake and Farminilon <br />contain selODium avet'aglng 52 ,ug/L and ranp lIS hiih lIS 243 I"glL (dissolved or total'?), These <br />levels, 26 and 122 times the New Mexico chronic standard respectively, sre clearly CXl:Cllsive Ind <br /> <br />]11 <br />It' <br />