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I remain so skeptical of predictions that gravel mining will change water quality to an unacceptable <br />degree that I could not advise the Division, in the general case, to require water sampling for metals at <br />gravel mines. However, recognizing that such predictions have been made in the Line Camp case, and <br />that the Operator has tried to dissuade those predictions through water and sediment sampling, I think a <br />reasonable solution to the questions raised by the November water and sediment testing, and the non- <br />definitive conclusions that were reached therefrom, would be to recommend approval of the permit <br />application with a condition to require an adequate water sample from the pit and from the river upstream <br />of the mine. The recommended condition is attached. <br />One additional note. Because acid rock drainage from the Rico district has degraded water quality in at <br />least part of the Dolores River, the surface water near Line Camp downstream has a chance of not <br />meeting its own standards. This would be through no fault of the Line Camp operation. Therefore, I <br />would suggest that at Line Camp [he baz should be set at ambient river water quality, and not at the <br />surface water quality standards. If CDPHE, through their regulatory program, should later set surface <br />water quality standards on the Line Camp discharge, such would be done under WQCC authority, and <br />DMG would have no say in how such discharge standazds would be established or justified. <br />Attachment: Recommended Condition for Approval of Line Camp Permit Application <br />Cc: Bruce Humphries <br />Allen Sorenson <br />Cheryl Linden, AGO <br />3 <br />