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-2- The forb species were harvested after 5 months growth in the pots. Shrubs and trees were harvested following 6 months growth. Attachment q8 is a photograph of sagebrush plants, illustrating the visual differences between representative pots containing topsoil only, topsoil over shale, and topsoil over shale treated with sulfuric acid. Root and shoot growth were separated, dried, and weighed. Shoot growth was analyzed for twenty-two elements at the Colorado State University Soil Testing Laboratory. Attachments N9, 10 and 11 are graphs which present the mean control and treatment values of arsenic, barium, and selenium for all twenty species. Several species tested in the first greenhouse study were not significantly affected by the presence of shale either in terms of shoot biomass production or trace element accumulation. These species will likely be tested in the 1 field demonstration plot and are potential candidates for permanent reclama- tion of a large shale disposal pile. They are as follows: Glaucus Aster Mountain Mahogany Rubber Rabbitbrush Sulfur Buckwheat Lewis Flax Rocky Mountain Penstemon Antelope Bitterbrush Woods Rose Snowberry 1 Based on the results of the first greenhouse study, two species, Common Yarrow and Big Sagebrush, were selected for the second greenhouse study. These two species most closely met the following criteria: I o They are easily propagated from seed, relatively fast growing, and produce sufficient biomass for weighing and analysis. o They exhibited differences in biomass production and element accumulation between the control and treatment pots during the first greenhouse study. J o They are both native species and may grow on processed shale piles as volunteers. ' The second greenhouse study is now in progress. A diagram illustrating the variables and design of this study is included as Attachment X12. During December, 1986 the eleven different combinations of shale type, moistening water type, and carbon dioxide addition were mixed using a Littleford Mixer. All of the samples were then placed in plastic lined containers and allowed to "cure" for sixty days thereby allowing chemical and cementation reactions I between the solid matrix and the pore water to occur. The shale and shale/ soil mixtures were then placed in five gallon pots as depicted in Attachment N13. Several of the pots were then leached with slightly less than 2 pore volumes. Leachate samples were collected, the remaining four inches of soil y were placed in the pots, and the pots were seeded. The first harvesting is 1 expected to occur near mid July, 1987. DMB:bIs