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except to the extent that all soils contain low levels of uranium (typically 5 parts per million in <br />the Rocky Mountains). Accordingly, the soil at the Ranch is not a source of radiation or other <br />impacts from the uranium orebody. <br />It might be considered that the presence of the orebody has radiation impacts on the surface. <br />However, this is not possible. The type of radiation released by the small radioactive component <br />of natural uranium is alpha radiation. This radiation has the ability to penetrate less than 1 foot of <br />soil or rock. Accordingly, no radiation can reach the ground surface from the orebody 600 feet <br />below. <br />It might also be considered that radon (a radioactive gas produced in the radioactive decay chain <br />of uranium) may be released from the orebody, and might ultimately affect conditions at the <br />surface. However, the life of radon is short (it has a half life of 3.82 days), and it decays to <br />below normal background levels in the time it takes to pass through less than 10 feet of rock or <br />soil material. Accordingly, it is not possible for radon emanating from the orebody to affect <br />conditions on the surface. Note, however, that radon occurs naturally in many rocks, and it is <br />always prudent to check any residential space for radon. <br />Groundwater Use <br />Groundwater in the area has been evaluated in great detail, in particular as a part of the <br />engineering and environmental studies performed during the permitting period for the proposed <br />mining activity. The locations of known wells (some of which may still exist) are shown on the <br />accompanying map. These studies show that potable groundwater is available to all tracts with <br />relatively shallow wells. <br />Groundwater in the area exists in four different geological materials, most of which are present <br />on each of the tracts on the South T -Bar Ranch. The details of the groundwater availability are <br />as follows: <br />Alluvium. There is up to 40 feet of alluvium in Tallahassee Creek and its tributaries. <br />Groundwater is freely available to most wells in this material, and is of very good <br />quality, with total dissolved solids content being less than 400 milligrams per liter. This <br />groundwater is not impacted by the orebody, and it meets all primary drinking water <br />standards. <br />Shallow Bedrock. The upper 600 feet of bedrock at the Ranch contains groundwater that <br />can be extracted at limited rates (up to 50 gallons per minute per well). The water has <br />not been affected by the uranium orebodies, but is of lower quality than the alluvial <br />water due to the long residence time in the rock. Typically this water contains about 600 <br />milligrams per liter total dissolved solids, and it meets all primary drinking water <br />standards. <br />Deep Bedrock. The deep bedrock in the area is of Precambrian Age, the oldest know <br />rocks on earth. These rocks yield water with difficulty, and the quality of the water is <br />generally fair. Typical total dissolved solids content is about 1,400 milligrams per liter, <br />and it is very hard. Generally this water has not been affected by the orebodies in the <br />area, and while it is not a particularly good source of drinking water due to the dissolved <br />constituents, it meets primary drinking water standards (but not secondary standards). <br />Orebody. The orebody rocks occur at depths greater than 600 feet, in locations that are <br />identified on the attached maps. The orebody rocks contain groundwater of very poor <br />