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<br />Daub & Associates, Inc. Page 3-21 2015 NS Mine Plan Modification <br />1/5/2016 Section 3 General Site Conditions <br />3.7. Toxic or Acid Wastes <br />3.7.1. Plant Wastes <br />The seven-acre waste water evaporation pond is designed to contain treated plant <br />water. This waste water currently consists of a concentration of salts from boiler <br />blowdown, water treatment system blowdown, and cooling tower blowdown. The <br />three-acre process pond contains sodium bicarbonate enriched precipitation runoff <br />from the crystallization and product loadout areas, and any excess sodium <br />bicarbonate brine from the processing area. The ponds are lined with double-layer <br />impervious liners with leak monitoring/seepage collection systems to prevent ground <br />water contamination. The wastes are capable of periodically being removed from <br />the evaporation ponds and disposed of either in a depleted cavity or at an existing <br />licensed disposal site. An increase in sodium bicarbonate production could <br />potentially result in more wash-down and process water. A pondage increase of <br />seven acres may be necessary to accommodate the increase in sodium bicarbonate <br />production.5 In addition, this would allow for more flexibility when emptying a pond <br />for maintenance and clean-out. <br />3.8. Soils <br />3.8.1. Introduction <br />The baseline soils study for the Natural Soda LLC Sodium Minerals Project includes <br />a soil survey, soil analyses, and report. The soil survey on the Project Area included <br />an intensive survey (Rio Blanco County Soil Surveys, Soil Conservation Service <br />(SCS), Order 2, 1982) of approximately 1,620 acres; a less intensive survey (SCS, <br />Order 3) was made on the sodium lease tracts (8,379 acres). Soil samples were <br />taken for analysis to determine soil suitability for topsoil material. Broad soil <br />horizons were sampled for physical and chemical differences rather than by genetic <br />horizons. This study was designed to meet the rules and regulations of the <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS), and to supply data <br />necessary to make an environmental assessment of the project for the BLM. <br /> 5 Revised December 2015