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1.0 Introduction <br />Frior to the start-up of the Phase 1 commercial production of the American Soda, L. L. P. <br />(American Soda) Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals Project (Yankee Gulch Project), a <br />comprehensive monitoring plan covering ground water, surface water and process monitoring <br />was approved by representatives from five permitting agencies. The original plan, finalized on <br />December 23, 1999, provided the basis for the sampling and monitoring program during both the <br />baseline and commercial production phases. Presently, monitoring under the guidance of the <br />original 1999 plan has been conducted for 15 months of baseline and over 15 quarters of <br />operational time as the project approaches the end of its 16`" operational quarter since initial <br />startup in October 2000. <br />Analysis of the data and knowledge gained from the original general scope monitoring program <br />provides the information necessary to focus monitoring efforts on those tasks and pazameters <br />which provide the most relevant and useful information needed for the protection of the <br />environment and human health in relation to this industrial activity. This monitoring plan <br />addresses changes to the original plan based upon an analysis of the information collected to <br />date. <br />Th monitoring plan includes provisions for two operating schemes: temporary suspension with <br />both the well field and production plant in temporary suspension mode, and commercial mining <br />production with both in full operation. <br />2.0 Ground Water Monitoring <br />The ground water monitoring program for the Yankee Gulch Site includes a network of wells <br />designed to monitor the alluvial aquifer, the upper aquifer (including Uinta and A Groove), and <br />the lower aquifer (B Groove and Dissolution Surface). The wells are positioned to include <br />locations up-gradient, down-gradient, and cross-gradient of the 0-5 year mining panel. Table 1 <br />shows the Bound water monitoring wells and their designations and respective locations. All <br />wells have been monitored monthly since the first or second month of the baseline phase in the <br />last half of 1999. <br />Draft Modification No. 9 UIC Area Permit No. CO30858-00000 Page 22 of 44 <br />