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• The main water source of the mine was changed from the high TDS(>5000 ppm) alluvial well water to a significantly lower TDS (500 ppm) surface lagoon. ' • The raw water tank was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to remove sludge built up over years. This sludge was found to contain significantly high levels (1000 colonies/ml) of bacteria. ' • An MSHA waiver was received to stop the use of Wendon Dustrol-10 surfactant ' in the water spray at the longwall face. The surfactant has been found to be lethal to fish life at 500 p m p . The WQCD also sent an effluent sample and prior toxicity reports to the EPA laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota to investigate the cause of toxicity. WFU believes WQCD has not heard from EPA in this regard. ' On December 28, 1992, WG1CD wrote to WFU asking either () to develop a control program which ' eliminates the toxicity through Vestment of the TDS or (ii) to perform a study which determines 'd TDS is having a toxic effect on the sVeam and to develop a level of TDS at the discharge point at which an instream impact is not expected. On March 29, 1993, WFU submitted a plan to use ' the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III per EPA guidelines. Under this plan, WFU would test the extent of impairment, 'rf any, on the aquatic life in the White River due to the mine water discharge. ' It will involve sampling and testing of micro-invertebrates. No fish will be collected since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife refused to grant permission to do so because of the endangered squawfish being planted in the river. WFU has not received WQCD's approval of this plan. The toxicity problem with the mine water was limited to the first longwall district. Mining in this district was completed in early 1993. The disVict has since then been sealed underground. There was pumping of accumulated water from this district and no WET tests were failed during this water year. The second longwall mining district water is pumped through SDH-3 and SDH-5. ' No toxicity was indicated during this water year. 2.3 Red Wash Alluvial Monltoring Program Portions of Red Wash have experienced subsidence due to longwall mining at the Deserado Mine. ' As required by CMLRD, Western Fuels initiated a detailed hydrology monitoring program in Red Wash above the first Iongwall panel to be mined. The monitoring program consists of nine (9) holes drilled in the Red Wash alluvium across the predicted zone of subsidence from longwall panel 1 (LW-1). Water levels in the holes were monitored before, during and after active ' 15