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possibility that the coloration of the water coming from the Edwards Mine Portal spring is due to humic acids (which, in turn, are coming from the Leonardite shale). One final area that cannot be overlooked in any analysis of the Edwards Mine Portal spring water quality issue is the fact that similar appearing water is seen at the Bowie No.2 Mine. The water has not yet been tested but it is curious that similarly colored water would appear hundreds of feet higher and several miles away from the Bear No. 3 Mine. After testing and comparison of the Bowie No. 2 water with the Edwards Mine Portal discharge, the possibility that the water is coming from contamination that resulted from the water being in contact with the Bear No.3 Mine (or some "item" in the Bear No. 3 Mine) can be determined. The strong possibility of humic acids compels the Division to do additional analyses to confirm or refute their presence. What I propose is three (and possibly a forth) different levels of analyses. The first thing that needs to be done is that two sets of samples should be taken from both the Edwards Mine Portal spring (or as close as is safely possible, given weather conditions and the fact that the spring originates in a slide area) and the Bowie No. 2 Mine seep. One of these sample sets, along with a trip blank, should be sent to Colorado State University (CSU) and the other set, along with a trip blank, should be sent back to the Division. The main analyses would be conducted at CSU. The university has the capability to identify high molecular weight organic molecules. Based on the results of the analyses, there could be a determination if, in fact, humic acids are present. The cost for each sample to be analyzed is $50.00. The second set of analyses would be performed by the Division. Purification of humic acids is performed by industry in a simple, two-step extraction procedure using sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. This extraction could be performed with relative ease (and probably no cost) by Division personnel. This extraction technique would be indicative of the presence of humic acids. The concentration of humic acids in the water could then be roughly calculated. The third set of analyses would be performed by the CDPHE lab. They would perform a Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis on the water sample and on the above extracted humic acids to determine carbon concentrations. This could be used to calculate the concentration of humic acids in the solution as well as to determine whether the substance that was extracted is actually humic acids. A forth set of analyses by the CDPHE lab may be useful. One more set of total metals analyses (on the metals with positive results) as well as a set of metals analyses on a filtered sample (for dissolved metals) may provide some useful information as well (considering humic acids are good at removing metals from water). Based on the lab results and a search of pertinent literature, it is my belief that the substance causing the brown color in the Edwards Mine Portal spring is humic acids. I also believe that if the Division performs the above-mentioned analyses, their results, along with the literature, could provide a definitive (or as definitive as possible) answer as to what is causing the brown coloration of the Edwards Mine Portal spring. This