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Cllent-. Mountain Cual Compony CO - 0038766 SCG (inject No.: 305302 <br />tine: 1Yest Elk Mine 017 <br />INTROUIY"11O\ <br />[3iomonitoring provides an effective means by which the toxicity of discharges liom <br />municipal. industrial, and mining operations can be tested. Among the advvttages of <br />biomonitoring is the ability to test complex effluents containing a broad range of contaminants. <br />13iomonitoring, when used in conjunction with chemical analyses, can generate data capable of <br />identilying a much wider range of contaminants. <br />In accordance with accepted Einvironmcntal Protection Agency (LPA) and State of <br />Colorado procedures, acute tests were performed using 1)crphniu nur~nur and Fathead minnows <br />(Pinreplur/rc promrlar) in October 'OO5. 1"his report details the results of these acute tests. <br />49:\-1'1{IL1,\l.ti:\..\I) ~lE?"I'11O1)ti <br />Sunrple Coller•tion <br />A sample was collected from the discharge system. The sample was delivered chilled to <br />the SeaCrest lab where it was held at 0-6°C. Chain of custody forms showing sample collection <br />and lab artival limes are included in Appendix 1. <br />Source and Acelinrution a/'Tecr Organisms <br />The biomonitoring trot used Dapiuria magma, cultured in the SeaCrtst laboraton•. The <br />organisms arc batch cultured in 5-gallon ayuaria. These organisms are used to supplement brood <br />boards from which individual females arc monitored for reproduction for periods up to two <br />weeks. Neonates are counted daily during this tine and young from broods of eight or more arc <br />collected for use in tests. "I'he animals arc fed daily with n mixture of Yeast, Cereal Leaves acrd <br />'trout Chow (YC7-). "hhis supplemented with an equal volume of cultured green algae <br />(Selenastrunr capricornurunr). <br />Five-day-old Fathead minnows were also obtained tiom in-house cultures. Adult fish are <br />maintained in 10-gallon aquaria where fcntalcs deposit their eggs on the under-surface of split <br />PVC pipe. sections. The eggs arc collected daily and transferred to aerated containers where they <br />hatch after three to four days. 'fhe lan•al fish are fed newly hatched Brine shrimp (Artenria sp.) <br />at (cast twice per duy. <br />In-house organisms are tested at least monthly in a reference toxicam test using sodium <br />chloride to monitor overall health and test reproducibility. <br />Test Procedures <br />Upon receipt at the lab, water samples were analyzed for alkalinity, hsrdness, <br />conductivity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, chlorine and pH. :\Ikalinity and hardness w•crc <br />determined titrimctricalh• according to methods described in Bach Chemical Company`. <br />Ammonia was measured by a 9ltermo Orion ion-selective electrode according to the procedures <br />in APFIA/A\V11'A~14'I:F=. <br />The acute tests were started on Octotxr 19, ?005 tier Duplrniu magna and October 19, <br />2005 for the Fathead minnows. The tests were performed according to the procedures outlined <br />SraCrrsl Gump <br />