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<br /> <br /> <br />2 • <br />adjacent to the Maxwell Mine. How much of this change is due to <br />natural change and degradation as the water flows from the mountains <br />to the plains and how much, if any, is due to mine effluents and <br />other effects is unkhown. <br />The chemical changes in the Purgatoire River due to the Allen <br />and Maxwell mines should not create an environment toxic to the <br />indigenous populations of fish. Neither should these changes signi- <br />ficantly affect the productive capacity of food chain organisms supporting <br />the fish populations. Suspended and settleable solids can adversely <br />affect fish populations. Damage to spawning sites and coating of <br />berithic (bottom) food organisms are examples of problems associated <br />with an excess of suspended and settleable solids. Operations in <br />compliance with the current regulations minimizes stream sedimentation .. <br />and should be followed. <br />Introduction <br />This study was requested by CF&I Steel Corporation, P.O. Box 316, <br />?ueblo, CO 81002, to provide information sufficient to satisfy <br />requirements of the Federal Office of Surface Mining (Sec. 779.20) and <br />State t4ineral Land Reclamation Board (Sec. 2.04.11) regulations in a <br />form acceptable for permitting purposes at the Allen and hlaxwell mines. <br />The federal regulations state that "Each application shall include <br />a study of fish and wildlife and their habitats within the proposed <br />mine plan area and the portions of the adjacent areas where effects on <br />