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R. G. OTTO & ASSOCIATES <br />~y;>± <br />Uranium and radium-226 concentrations observed in the F:adioactive <br />Material s,Lfcense Monitoring Program (excluding those noted above) <br />are comparable in magnitude to thosa found is the Cotter/USGS <br />waste rock pil• sampling program (see Section 3 to follow). There <br />is no empirically obvious pattern to the data for nap element or <br />phase (soluble or suspended>, either by location oz by season. The <br />point measurements of Uranium concentrations are consie;teatly well <br />below th• Colorado Water Quality Standard of 59 uqm/1 :it both <br />locations. Average concentrations for soluble and susj>ended <br />uranium sad toz soluble radium-226 wer• slightly higher below the <br />waste rock piles than above. However, concentrations ~ipstream of <br />~`, the waste piles ezceeded those downstream on approzimai;elp half of <br />~1 the sampling occasions, suggesting that the differences relate <br />more to (natural) short term variations is stream qual:itp than to <br />erosion or solution of materials from th• waste rock. <br />The distributions of results wens tested statistically for <br />differences is concentrations of each element and phase between <br />locations above and below the waste rock piles emplopi~iq a paired <br />t test. Concentrations for the two elements as measured below the <br />waste rock piles did not differ significantly from those found <br />above the waste piles. This result, for two of the key elements <br />of concern and based on an ezteaded time series of sampling that <br />incorporates the full, annual Cycle of stream coaditioos alone <br />should be adequate to satisfy any concerns of the Division of <br />Water Quality with regard to radioactive parameters. <br />12 <br />