2014-02-04_REPORT - M1983194 (2)

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Natural Soda, Inc. 2013 Project Status Report & Annual Plan of Development 5.0 Environmental Monitoring and Protection ' 5.1 Hydrology Monitoring 5.1.1 Introduction NSI's hydrology monitoring program concentrates on ground water, as there are no perennial streams or springs located on or near NSI's sodium leases. The USGS ' stream gauging station - monitoring program is conducted, with NSI support, to provide regional surface stream flow data on Yellow and Piceance Creeks. The hydrology- monitoring plan is designed to determine impacts of NSI's solution mining operations on underground sources of drinking water, as designated by the US EPA. ' Refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 for the locations of existing monitor wells. Groundwater analytical results are presented in Appendix A. 5.1.2 Stream Gauging Stations NSI continues to contract with the USGS to monitor surface water for water quality and quantity. Monitoring was performed upstream and downstream of the mining operation on Yellow Creek and Piceance Creek at four existing stations with extensive historical data. 2013 USGS stream data will not be available until later in the 2014 calendar year. The 2013 USGS information will be included in the subsequent 2014 annual report. iHistorical stream gauging data is reported in this document and is complete through the 2012 water year (October 2011- September 2012). The USGS surface water data are available to the public from the USGS web site at http: / /co.water.usgs.gov. Tables 5 and 6 summarize key 2012 water year data for surface water on the NSI site. A review of USGS stream water quality data indicated no significant change in stream water quality through 2012. 2012 water year data showed continued drought conditions ' in Western Colorado and did affect overall stream levels in the area. No effect on stream water quality was noted from the NSI operation. ' DAUB & ASSOCIATES, INC. I. 18 January 2014