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The attached table lists the recommended parameters to be measured. A few notes may be in <br /> order. <br /> The operator has not included field pH and field conductivity. However, these should be <br /> included as a check on the field measurements and to evaluate possible intrasample reactions <br /> between the field and the lab. <br /> The operator has proposed measuring TDS. However, as TDS can generally be estimated <br /> reliably from conductivity, the TDS measurement could be dropped from the analyte list. <br /> The operator has proposed to measure sodium. Sodium measurements are part of a complete <br /> major element analysis which in low pH waters would include Ca, Mg, K, Na, Si, SOa, Cl, COa, <br /> and HCO3. However, as sodium is not regulated, the Division cannot require its measurement. <br /> Moreover, unless all of the major cations and anions are measured, measurement of Na, Ca, Mg <br /> and SO4, only, would be of little use. <br /> The operator has proposed to measure Cr. Having evaluated the existing information, and based <br /> on general knowledge, there is very little reason to measure this element in natural waters. <br /> The operator has proposed that silver be measured only at select stations. For the baseline <br /> monitoring period, silver concentrations should be established in all of the stations. <br /> Ca, Mg and calculated hardness need to be measured for surface water only because drinking <br /> water and agriculture standards are not based on hardness. <br /> For the nitrogen family, including cyanide, it will be important to establish background <br /> concentrations, but as long as the mill remains closed, there is no reason to monitor for these <br /> constituents. <br /> Aluminum is an aquatic standard only so needs only to be measured in surface waters. <br /> Some of the earlier boron analyses appeared to be suspiciously high, given the types of ore that <br /> have been processed at this mill. The possibility of lab error was considered. Until this potential <br /> discrepancy is cleared up, boron should be evaluated in the surface and groundwater background <br /> evaluation. <br /> In time, once the groundwater conditions have been established, the operator should consider <br /> removing some of the groundwater monitoring stations. It is noted however that because the <br /> groundwater is so inhomogeneous, it will be to the operators advantage to understand the <br /> conditions as well as possible. <br /> Attachment <br /> cc: Tom Gillis Jim Pendleton <br />