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Three different sets of standazds were used in the Division's determination. First, levels for sulfate, chloride, arsenic, chromium and selenium are published values. Second, the levels for cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, silver, uranium and zinc aze table value standards (TVS). The TVS are calculated individually based on the calcium carbonate hazdness levels in the stream segment of interest. According to Dan Beley of the Water Quality Control Division (WQCD), the hardness value that was used for stream segment 2 was 82 mg/1. This value was used to calculate all of the TVS values. Third, levels for iron and pH are the acceptable discharge levels from the Bear No. 3 Mine's NPDES permit. There are no standazds listed for aluminum, barium, beryllium, calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, sodium or total organic cazbon. Of the above referenced standards, only two analytes from the Edwards Portal spring exceeded their maximum levels. These were copper and manganese. The reported value for copper from the Edwazds Portal spring was 23 ug/1 and the standard is 7.6 ug/1. The reported value for manganese was 520 ug/I and the standard is 31 ug/l. Although both of these exceed the stream standazds, none of the exceedances contributes to the overall level of contamination in the river, following mixing and dilution. The reported level for copper in both the upstream and downstream samples was <5 ug/1. The reported level for manganese in the upstream sample was 4 ug/1 and the reported level for the downstream sample was 6 ug/1. Although the reported manganese level was 50% higher in the downstream sample, the difference between 4 ug/l and 6 ug/1 is insignificant. Further, the Bear No. 3 Mine's NPDES permit (CO-0044377 -effective 1 June 2004) states that "the ratio of flow of the North Fork of the Gunnison River to the Mountain Coal and Bear Coal W WTF's combined designated flows... is more than 150:1 at low flows... the discharge of pollutants should not be considered to result in significant degradation of the reviewable waters if the flow rate is greater than 100:1 dilution at low flow." The WQCD does not believe that the discharge from the Beaz No. 3 Mine will contribute to degradation of the North Fork of the Gunnison and this is verified by the Division's test results. The only metal that is included in the NPDES permit for the Beaz No. 3 Mine is iron. The reported level of iron in the Edwards Portal spring was 2,500 ug/l, which is well below the maximum allowable level of 6,000 ug/l in their NPDES permit. The main item of interest with regards to the Edwazds Portal spring is the reddish-brown color of the water. The color is not coming from the iron or any other metal (iron at the low concentrations observed will not impart that color to the water). A full suite of organic analyses was performed on the water in September 2004 and no organics (volatile or semivolatile) were detected. There was the possibility of high-moleculaz weight organic acids in the water. It was postulated that these acids could be humic acids and there was some anecdotal evidence to support this theory (see memo of 23 February 2005). The Division sent additional samples to the Colorado State University Macromolecule Laboratory for analysis for possible humic acids and to the CDPHE laboratory for total organic carbon analysis.