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i.'~~66c~c~,ow ~ ~o~~P~do f~ ~ ,. - h h~~+~ `-`~~ -' 111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ! ,, :- iI,? sss .. , r 1/ G' 1 February 7, 1979 ~i' ~ Harris Sherman _ Ex~cutlva Director Dept. of Natural Resources Chairman, Water Quality Control Comm 1313 Sherman Denver, CO 80203 Dear Mr. Sherman: Re: Request for hearing for the Schwortzwalder Mine in Jefferson Count;r, concerning contamine lion of Ralston Creek anti Long Lake by ' discharge from the mine. I am requesting a hearing for the Schwortzwalder Mine (tl~e Cotter Corp.), because tho discharge of effluent from the mine into Ralston Creek leas resulted in a substantial adverse effect on the water quality of Ralston Creek and Long Loke. Long Lake is the source of wafer for The North Table Mountain Water District. Levels of sulfate have doubled in the past six months and are now at a level of 340 milligrams per liter in the tap water of the North Table Mountain community. Of even greater concern are the high amounts of gross alplio and beta rodiation in this water. A sample of drinking water collected lost summer indicated levels of uranium of obout 80 picocuries per liter and 3.4 picocuries per liter of lead 210. These two constituentt- would account (by year 50 of constant intake) for a dose of about 100 millirems to organs and total body of persons drinking this water. Levels of gross alpha contamination and uranium have increased by a factor of 5 since that time, with levels as high as 453 picocuries per liter now being recorded. Analysis of the constituents for uranium has not exploined the total amounfof gross alpha radiation, although I understand that a greater proportion than usual of uranium 234 could account for the disparity. We have also been concerned for some time about the very high levels of gross beta radiation. At a recentmeeting with representatives of the EPA, it is my understanding that the gross beta may be explained by the presence of large amounts of thorium 234, with one level recorded being as high as 2500 picocuries per liter in a sample that was analyzed several months after it had been collected. There have been frequent complaints of poor toste of the water, of laxative properties, ~ which moy render the water unFit for use with infants and young children, or I~ersons with gastro-intestinal problems. Calculation of organ and total body doses from the:se radioactive constituents gives dose estimates that are unacceptoE;le for chronic users of this wafer. Tests of Ralston Creek water above the mine show very low levels of radiation, often less than 1 picocurie, for both gross alpha and gross beta radiation. Levels of gross a{pha in mine effluent range as high as in excess of 10,000 picocuries per liter of gross alphl~ and 2500 picocuries of gross beta radiation, including as much as 139 picocuries per liter of radium 226. Because of the adverse effect of the effluent from the mine on the drinking water For this community, I respectfully request that a hearing be conducted to show cause why the Schwortzwalder Uranium Mine should not be ordered to cease discharging into Ralston Creek. I would recommend that this hearing be conducted in the Jefferson County Court House in Golden,. in order to permit local residents to participate in the hearing. ~- ` Sinc re~ youh ...~ _.. i CJJ:gw f JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALT{' Ip ELPAI~fi~MENT 26D SOUiN ..IPLING STREET L4KEKG^D. EDLDRADII DG:'Jf. RC"; n.r4AlIC9f;'tii'~l'tLN 1;. C;;ic :•I~~,i. ei (•.'.~uril •.;:•sLUaces ('r, Carl J. Jolin>;o'r1~ M.D.,M:P:H. Director of FlRalth ~ '.; i 9 ~ ~i i _, ~r' :',S(~Ci ~ i I