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perform a study which determines if TDS is having a toxic effect on the stream and to <br />develop a level of TDS at the discharge point at which an instream impact is not <br />expected. On March 29, 1993, BME submitted a plan to use the Rapid Bioassessment <br />Protocol III per EPA guidelines. Under this plan, BME would test the extent of <br />impairment, if any, on the aquatic life in the White River due to the mine water discharge. <br />It would involve sampling and testing of micro-invertebrates. No fish would be collected <br />since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife refused to grant permission to do so because of the <br />endangered squawfish being planted in the river. BME never heard from WQCD or <br />received WQCD's approval of this plan. WQCD thinks it is now not necessary to do this <br />task since the mine passed the WET test during for three water years (1994-1997). <br />Besides, no mine water is discharged at this time requiring WET testing. See Appendix H <br />of the Thirteenth Annual Hydrology Report for WQCD's letter. <br />The toxicity problem with the mine water was limited to the first longwall district. Mining in <br />this district was completed in early 1993. The. district has since been sealed <br />underground. There has been no pumping of accumulated water from underground <br />during this water year. <br />2.3 Red Wash Alluvial Monitoring Program <br />Portions of Red Wash have experienced subsidence due to longwall mining at the <br />Deserado Mine. As required by CMLRD (now DRMS), BME initiated a detailed hydrology <br />monitoring program in Red Wash above the first longwall panel to be mined. The <br />monitoring program consisted of nine (9) holes drilled in the Red Wash alluvium across the <br />predicted zone of subsidence from longwall panel 1 (LW-1 ). Water levels in the holes were <br />monitored before, during, and after active subsidence took place. The purpose of the <br />monitoring program was to determine if surface flow in Red Wash was being lost to bedrock <br />as the result of subsidence. <br />The monitoring data, analysis and conclusions reached were submitted to CMLRD in an <br />Interim Report, November 1987, and in the Third Annual Hydrology Report, January 1988. <br />The purpose of the monitoring program was met in that it was determined that surface flow <br />in Red Wash was not lost to bedrock as a result of subsidence. The major conclusions of <br />the study were: <br />• Recharge of the basal alluvium was from the upper sandstone facies (bedrock) <br />and not from infiltration of surface runoff. <br />12 <br />