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~' <br />11 of the available llydrogeochemical information clearly shows that, <br />according to the abov~a regulations, the aquifers in the Piceance Basin <br />are classified as USD'vJs. If the commenter is proposing that these <br />aquifers be exempted as USDWs, then he must prove that these aquifers <br />meet the criteria for exempting aquifers, as defined by the Code of <br />Federal Regulations (40 CFR 146.4), and then request such exemptions. <br />RESPONSE #1.2 <br />We feel that this question/comment was adequately addressed under <br />fESPONSE #3 of the EPA letter dated December 17, 1986. <br />RESPONSE <br />Table 3-2 (4Jater Quality Parameters For The Sodium Lease Area And State <br />Standards), on page 3-13 of the draft EIS, lists pH, fluoride, iron, <br />molybdenum, and TDS levels for the upper and lower aquifers. In the <br />appendix, the fluoride level was used as an example of a constituent that <br />was present in an amount that exceeds drinking water standards. It <br />should not be construed that fluoride is the only constituent that <br />appears in amounts greater than current drinking water standards. <br />COMMENT # 2 <br />This comment was divided into subcomments, each of which addresses <br />specific statements that appear in section C-1, page 6.5-3 of Appendix F. The <br />commenter claims that: <br />(I) "Wolf Ridge Corporation's plan to cement the lower 100 feet of the <br />8 5/8" outer casing.(Figure 1) is adequate." <br />(II) "The cement will effectively support the casing in the bore hole <br />as well as seal the annulus from the production cavity for the <br />short operational life of the well which is anticipated to be 90 <br />days." <br />(III) "The cement and casing pack will effectively seal and support the <br />casing. Wolf Ridge Corporation plans to utilize in excess of 33 <br />times the minimum amount of cement to support the 8 5/8" casing." <br />(IV) "Wolf Ridge Corporation's (WRC) completion technique will provide <br />adequate protection of the aquifers." <br />(V) "The mining solutions will be safely contained inside the 5 1/2" <br />diameter production casing (Figure 1)." <br />NOTE: These next subcomments address the plug & abandonment plan <br />discussions: <br />(VI) "Tne bridge plug as well as the cement plug will adequately seal <br />the production cavity so that fluids within the mined out cavity <br />will not migrate up through the casing." <br />-2- <br />