Laserfiche WebLink
this standard is used to protect crops grown in soils with a pH value <br />lower than 6.0. In soils with a higher pH (as are found in the Seneca <br />II-W region), a more appropriate standard would be 10 mg/1 (EPA, 1976). <br />This year, none of the Seneca II-W wells displayed a value higher than <br />2.94 mg/1. <br />One well, WW14, exhibited boron values, 930 and 970 ug/1, which exceeded <br />the CDOH standard of 750 ug/1. According to the CDOH, the 750 ug/1 <br />standard is set for sensitive crops (CDOH, Reg. 41, 1999), and that the <br />limit otherwise is 5000 ug/1. None of these sensitive plant species are <br />grown commercially in this area. <br />At the Seneca II-W shop well, Well 201TC, CDOH drinking water standards <br />were used to determine its suitability. No human health standards were <br />exceeded. The secondary standard for iron (0.3 mg/1) was exceeded with <br />values of 3.71 and 6.45 mg/1. The secondary standard for manganese (0.05 <br />mg/1) was exceeded with values of 0.132 and 0.164 mg/1. However, bottled <br />water is consumed at Seneca II-W. Also, since the aquifer for the shop <br />well (Trout Creek Sandstone) starts at 280 feet below the Wadge Coal and <br />is separated by confining shale layers, water from this well should not <br />be affected by mining and, therefore, reflects the natural <br />characteristics of the aquifer. <br />Ground Water Quality Summary. Increasing TDS trends are beginning to be <br />observed at most wells downgradient of mining. However, three <br />downgradient wells, WSAL14, WW17 and WOV17, exhibit a stable TDS trends. <br />Two other wells, WHAL6-2 and WSAL12, exhibit TDS trends that are <br />increasing only slightly. <br />Agricultural ground water standards were exceeded this year at certain <br />monitoring wells. Tab 7 of the Seneca II-W PAP contains a section that <br />discusses the suitability of using water from the various aquifers <br />monitored at the Seneca II-W Mine for irrigation or livestock watering. <br />The discussion mentions that all aquifers prior to mining at the Seneca <br />II-W Mine have exhibited several parameter concentrations in excess of <br />both irrigation and livestock standards compared, rendering them <br /> <br /> <br />• <br />12 <br />