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2015 Annual Hydrology Report Energy Fuels Coal, Inc. -Southfield Mine
<br />The Southfield PAP and the Division concur that the quantity of surface and subsurface flows in the
<br />three creeks have not been impacted by Southfield's mining operations. In the long term, flow in the
<br />creeks will depend on the number of significant storm events in the area and, to some extent, on
<br />snowpack levels in the higher elevations. EFCI believes that long-term trends in flow quantity
<br />therefore can not be predicted by past flow rate measurements but are dependent only on future
<br />precipitation trends in the Southfield area.
<br />An analysis of surface water quality by reviewing representative individual water quality parameters
<br />through time was provided in TR -43, as discussed below. Newlin Creek, Magpie Creek, and Second
<br />Alkali Creek were monitored, and field and laboratory data for the following chemical parameters
<br />obtained over time included pH (field), Conductivity (field), Temperature (field), Solids, total
<br />dissolved (TDS), Solids, total suspended (TSS), Oil and grease (visual), Sodium absorption ratio,
<br />Bicarbonate as HCO3, Calcium, total, Chloride, Magnesium, total, Nitrogen- nitrate nitrite,
<br />Selenium, total, Phosphate, as P, Sodium, total, Sulfate, Iron, total, and Manganese, total.
<br />Graphs incorporating all available data for the above parameters, plotted as parameters through
<br />time, were included in materials submitted with TR -43. These graphs included all available data for
<br />Newlin Creek - upper and lower, Magpie Creek - upper and lower, and Second Alkali Creek. An
<br />analysis of the data shown on these graphs for the three creeks (five monitoring points) follows.
<br />An analysis of the data shown on these graphs follows. Since there were considerable fluctuations
<br />in the data, a moving average trend line was shown on each graph to show a pattern or trend more
<br />clearly.
<br />TDS and TSS levels are important parameters to consider in terms of stream water quality. In
<br />particular, the PHC cites TDS as a quality indicator parameter. A review on the data provided for
<br />upper and lower Newlin Creek points shows TDS levels staying in a close range from about 2000
<br />through the latest sampling, while values ranged more widely from 1997 to 2000, with higher levels
<br />shown for the lower monitoring point. For the same time period, TSS levels varied up and
<br />downward, and for both points there is a possible downward trend in levels beginning in about
<br />2005.
<br />For Magpie Creek, TDS data shows a wide range of values at both monitoring points, with slightly
<br />higher values at the lower location. A possible upward trend of TDS levels is evident at the upper
<br />monitoring point. Levels of TSS similarly have a wide range at both monitoring points, and show
<br />significantly higher average values at the upper location. Only the upper point shows a possible
<br />trend of decreasing values over the latest four years of data.
<br />Very few samples are available for TDS and TSS from Second Alkali Creek. The data provided
<br />shows a wide range of values for both parameters over time. A downward trend is indicated for
<br />both parameters, but is difficult to verify based on so little data. It is important to note that Second
<br />Alkali Creek was not undermined by Southfield and therefor probably not affected by mining.
<br />A review of data for the remaining parameters, from the aforementioned list, show variations in
<br />values over time with no significant trends in quality over the range of years. In addition, no
<br />discernible trends are apparent for these parameters comparing the applicable upper and
<br />downstream monitoring points. The data do show that water quality can vary through a given year.
<br />Also, quality is likely affected by the intensity of a given storm event that produces flow, and also
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