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Mountain Coal Company CO - 0038766 SCG Project No.: 304222 <br />Site: West Elk Mine <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Biomonitoring provides an effective means by which the toxicity of dischaz•ges from <br />municipal, industrial, and mining operations can be tested. Among the advantages of <br />Biomonitoring is the ability to test complex effluents containing a broad range of contaminants. <br />Biomonitoring, when used in con}unction with chemical analyses, can generate data capable of <br />identifying a much wider range of contaminants. <br />In accordance with accepted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State of <br />Colorado procedures, acute tests were performed using Daphnia magna and Fathead minnows <br />(Pimephales promelas) in August 2004. This report details the results of these acute tests. <br />MATERIALS AND METHODS <br />Sample Collection <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 arrival times are included in Appendix 1. <br />Source and Acclimation of Test Organisms <br />The Biomonitoring test used Daphnia magna, cultured in the SeaCrest laboratory. The <br />organisms are batch cultured in 5-gallon aquaria. These organisms are used to supplement brood <br />boards from which individual females are monitored for reproduction for periods up to two <br />weeks. Neonates are counted daily during this time and young from broods of eight or more are <br />collected for use in tests. The animals are fed daily with a mixture of Yeast, Cereal Leaves and <br />Trout Chow (YCT). This supplemented with an equal volume of cultured green algae <br />(Selenasirum capricornutum). <br />Eight-day-old Fathead minnows were also obtained from in-house cultures. Adult fish <br />are maintained in 10-gallon aquaria where females deposit their eggs on the under-surface of <br />split PVC pipe sections. The eggs are collected daily and transferred to aerated containers where <br />they hatch after three to four days. The larval fish are fed newly hatched Brine shrimp (Artemia <br />sp.) at least twice per day. <br />In-house organisms are tested at least monthly in a reference toxicant 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, hardness, <br />conductivity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, chlorine and pH. Alkalinity and hardness were <br />determined titrimetrically according to methods described in Hach Chemical Company'. <br />Ammonia was measured by a Thermo Orion ion-selective electrode according to the procedures <br />in APHA/AWWA/WEFZ. <br />The acute tests were started on August 26, 2004 for Daphnia magna and August 26, 2004 <br />for the Fathead minnows. The tests were performed according to the procedures outlined in <br />USEPA' and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment°. The Daphnia magna <br />tests were conducted over a 48-hour period, while the fish were exposed for 96-hours. Exposure <br />concentrations included 0%(control), 1.9%, 12.5%, 25%, 50% and 100% effluent mixtures. <br />The SeaCrest Group 5 <br />