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1 <br />' A pilot test was conducted to identify a flocculent for removing high levels of oil <br />and grease from the effluent. <br />• The main water source of the mine was changed from the high TDS(>5000 <br />' ppm) alluvial well water to a significantly lower TDS (500 ppm) surface lagoon. <br />• The raw water tank was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to remove sludge <br />' built up over years. This sludge was found to contain significantly high levels <br />(1000 colonies/ml) of bacteria. <br />• An MSHA waiver was received to stop the use of Wendon Dustrol-10 <br />surfactant in the water spray at the longwall face. The surfactant has been <br />found to be lethal to fish life at 500 ppm. <br />' The WQCD also sent an effluent sample and prior toxicity reports to the EPA laboratory in <br />Duluth, Minnesota to investigate the cause of toxicity. WQCD never heard from EPA in this <br />regard. WQCD does not think it is now necessary since the mine has been passing the WET <br />testing during the three (1994-97) water years. Besides no mine water is discharged at this <br />time requiring WET testing. A copy of the letter dated January 30, 1997 from WQCD is <br />attached in Appendix H of the Thirteenth Annual Hydrology Report <br />On December 28, 1992, WQCD wrote to WFU (now BME) asking either (i) to develop a <br />' control program which eliminates the toxicity through treatment of the TDS or (ii) to perform a <br />study which determines if TDS is having a toxic effect on the stream and to develop a level of <br />' TDS at the discharge point at which an instream impact is not expected. On March 29, 1993, <br />BME submitted a plan to use the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III per EPA guidelines. <br />Under this plan, BME would test the extent of impairment, if any, on the aquatic life in the <br />' White River due to the mine water discharge. It will involve sampling and testing of micro- <br />invertebrates. No fish will be collected since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife refused to grant <br />' permission to do so because of the endangered squawfish being planted in the river. BME <br />never heard from WQCD or received WQCD's approval of this plan. WQCD thinks it is now <br />not necessary to do this task since the mine had been passing the WET test during the three <br />' (1994-1997) water years. Besides, no mine water is discharged at this time requiring WET <br />testing. See Appendix H of the Thirteenth Annual Hydrology Report for WQCD's letter. <br />1 The toxicity problem with the mine water was limited to the first longwall district. Mining in this <br />district was completed in early 1993. The district has since then been sealed underground. <br />' There has been no pumping of accumulated water from underground during this water year. <br />1 <br />15 <br />