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Many trace elements were consistently found to be near or below the detectable limits for <br />all springs for the 2000 water yeaz. These same trace elements have historically been <br />found to be below detectable limits. They aze aluminum, ammonia, arsenic, cadmium, <br />copper, iron (both total and dissolved), lead, mercury, molybdenum, nitrite, nitrate, <br />nitrate/nitrite, phosphate, selenium, and zinc. <br />RESULTS -MONITORING WELLS FOR WATER YEAR 2000 <br />Three groundwater monitoring wells were sampled during the 2000 water yeaz. The wells <br />sampled are designated 17-B, 94-1, and 95-1. Well 17-B is 600' west of the corner of the <br />northwest permit boundary within Cazbon Junction Canyon. Well 94-1 is located adjacent <br />to the east edge of the south pit. Well 95-1 is located approximately 850 feet south- <br />southwest of the future pit boundary. Well 17-B is located upgradient of any disturbance <br />related to mining. Well 94-1 is located within the area disturbed by mining, and well 95-1 <br />is located downgradient and outside the proposed coal mining disturbance. As such, these <br />wells (94-I and 95-[) would be expected to show any changes resulting from nrining <br />disturbance. These wells may also show changes to groundwater due to adjacent sand and <br />gravel mining on Ewing Mesa. <br />Each of the wells was sampled once during the 2000 water year. Sampling occurred <br />during the third water yeaz quarter (June 8). Summaries of sampling data from the <br />groundwater wells for the 2000 water yeaz are contained in Tables 3, 4, and 5. <br />The depth to water in wells 17-B and 95-1 remained relatively consistent during the 2000 <br />water year with a slight increase in depth to water for well 94-1 and a slight decrease in <br />depth to water in wells 17-B and 95-1. In well 94-1, depth to water has fluctuated widely <br />in the last four water yeazs. Between the fast and third calendar quarters of 1997, the <br />depth to water in 94-1 increased from 22 to 64 feet. Between the first and second <br />calendar quarters of 1998, the depth to water level returned to 22 feet from 64 feet. <br />Between the fourth calendar quarter of 1998 and the second calendaz quarter of 1999, the <br />depth to water level in well 94-1 again dropped, this time to 76 feet. During the second <br />calendar quarter of 2000 the depth to water level returned to 31 feet. At this time there <br />does not appear to be a definitive explanation for this occurrence. It is interesting to note <br />this fluctuation, as no significant fluctuation in water level in the other monitoring wells <br />has occurred either above or below the mine. <br />Water temperature in the wells fluctuates regularly with the seasons. Water temperatures <br />are lowest during the winter months and highest during the summer months. Temperature <br />generally fluctuates most in the shallowest well (17-B) and least in the deepest well (95-1 j. <br />Temperature ranges for the 2000 water year remained within those observed previously <br />for the wells. <br />The pH for all wells changed from slightly basic during the end of water year 1996 to <br />slightly acidic at the beginnittg of water yeaz 1997. During this water yeaz (2000), the pH <br />-5- <br />