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data appear to be anomalous and will advise them that care should be exercised in reviewing these data. The notice sheet will specifically indicate that interpretation of data from well 20-1 is problematic and that the assessment of Lower Aquifer water quality based on these data should be done with caution. The draft monitoring plan and the notice sheet will be provided to the EPA and the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) prior to issuance of their respective commercial permits, and documentation of these actions will be provided to RBC. American Soda is committed to working with RBC and the other agencies to cooperatively address their concerns in the groundwater monitoring program. American Soda has retained the services of Bishop-Brogden Associates, [nc., a water resources consultant specializing in groundwater, to assist in the development of the final monitoring plan. American Soda will include monitoring provisions for the Piceance Creek Alluvial Aquifer and local springs, as determined through consultation with the various agencies. Specific locations, numbers, and sampling frequencies of these systems will be determined as part of the final monitoring plan. American Soda intends that the final monitoring program will be a dynamic and flexible plan that may be altered based on the results of future data collection and in cooperation with the permitting agencies. After the monitoring program is implemented, American Soda will produce annual data reports and provide the reports to the agencies. American Soda will periodically provide analytical results to RBC and other agencies on a timely basis throughout the year or upon request. American Soda is committed to protecting groundwater quality in the Piceance Creek Basin. As we have discussed with RBC and other agencies, American Soda will take appropriate and effective measures to protect groundwater quality including the following. • Effective well completions to isolate aquifer systems, including the use of tubing inside properly cemented casing, logging to evaluate the adequacy of well completions, and mechanical integrity testing of wells prior to operation. • Operational monitoring of the pressure and flow in and out of wells to evaluate potential leakage and detect well failures. Isolation of the solution mining cavity is required for the mining process to work. If pressure cannot be maintained on a well, the well cannot be mined. • Establishment of a roof zone above each cavity to further isolate the mining horizon from the aquifer systems. The roof zone will be approximately 150 feet thick. • Completion of a final groundwater monitoring plan that is both economically feasible and technically viable. The monitoring plan will include the proper collection Water Quality 1-2 Rio Blanco County Additional In(ormanon Request Piceance Muting Operatlon American Soda, L.LP.