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water year over the prior year, but levels aze well within the scope of prior year's <br />fluctuations. Manganese levels have shown a rise over the past two water years, though <br />this is likely an artifact of more precise reporting on the part of the laboratory. Iron and <br />sodium concentrations have remained consistently within recorded ranges over the past <br />year. <br />In this water year's sampling of the chemical constituents of well 95-1, the only parameters <br />that showed noteworthy increases in concentrations were ammonia, chloride, and <br />manganese. Ammonia concentrations this water yeaz were 1.5 mg/1 during June 2000, an <br />increase from the April 1999 level of less than O.l mg/I. This is the highest recorded level <br />for this constituent at this well. Further sampling will determine whether this is a <br />significant trend or a one time anomaly. Chloride concentrations at well 95-1 have always <br />been significantly higher than the other two wells. During the last two water years, <br />chloride levels have increased from the 30-40 mg/1 range to the 70-80 mg/1 range. <br />Manganese concentrations (and detection levels) have fluctuated greatly during the last six <br />water years, and while the 2000 water yeaz concentrations are higher than the prior water <br />year, the concentration is within the range recorded in the mid-1990's. <br />Bicarbonate, calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, and sulfate concentrations in well 95-1 <br />remained at levels consistent with those of the last two to three water years. <br />Many of the trace elements found to be below the detection limits for the springs sampled <br />were also found to be below detection limits for the wells sampled. These trace elements <br />are arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nitrite, nitrate, nitrate/nitrite, selenium, and zinc. Other <br />trace elements found at detectable limits are consistent within each well at levels that do <br />not indicate high or low fluctuations of these elements. Overall, elements that aze <br />detectable and those that aze not have been consistent throughout the groundwater well <br />monitoring program at the Carbon Junction Mine. <br />CONCLUSIONS <br />Hydrologic sampling of two natural springs occurring below the mine site showed no <br />significant changes in parameter values during the 2000 water year that would indicate <br />concerns with water associated with the area of the coal mining operation. Springs 3 and 4 <br />both flowed during the sampling event in June 2000. No significant changes were <br />observed in the chemical composition ofthe springs. <br />Groundwater wells above and below the mine site showed a few significant changes in <br />pazameter values during the 2000 water yeaz. Well 17-B (above the mine) showed an <br />increase in concentrations of chloride this water year. While the value for this parameter <br />is within the historic levels recorded during the past six water years, this parameter bears <br />observation during the 2001 water year. Well 95-1 (below the mine) showed increases of <br />note in ammonia and chloride. Both constituents showed marked increases this water year <br />• <br />-7- <br />