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• 11 <br />~ )' <br />Effects of the Maxwell and Allerr mines on water chemistry in the <br />Purgatoire River were studied and reported by Water, Waste & Land, Ltd. <br />(1980). They have summarized the minimum, maximum and mean values at <br />the USGS surface water gaging station at Stonewall (above both mines); <br />i <br />then, based on analysis of mine discharges at the Allen and Maxwell mines <br />and seepage from the active refuse pile at the Allen Mine, they calculated <br />changes in concentration of measured elements and their total effects <br />on stream quality of,the Purgatoire River. <br />As a basis for evaluating the changes in concentration calculated <br />by.4later, Waste 8 Laid, Ltd., I reviewed the Colorado Department of <br />Health regulations (Colorado Department of Health, 1919); the Colorado <br />• I ` ~,,, Division of Wildlife, recommendations for maintaining water quality for <br />aquatic 1°fe (Davies and Goettl, 1976); ualit Criteria for Water (EPA, <br />1976), commonly called the EPA "Red Book"; and A Review of the EPA Red <br />~ Book (Thurston, et a1. 1979). In addition, I discussed the lJater, <br />Waste & Land, Ltd. report with Patrick H. Davies, toxicologist with the <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife, and with fishery scientists at Colorado <br />State University. <br />Asa result of these reviews and discussions, I conclude that the <br />chemical changes reported by 'Water, Waste 8 land, Ltd. should not create <br />an environment toxic to the indigenous populations of fish. neither <br />should these changes significantly affect the productive capacity of <br />food chain organisms supporting the fish populations. <br />' Unfortunately, interpretation of the significance of changes in <br />• ~ .. <br />I <br />