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3.0 Ground Water Quality Sampling Procedures <br />Ground water samples will be collected according to the procedures outlined in Appendix C. <br />Sampling equipment will be decontaminated as described in Appendix D. <br />At the Piceance Site, American Soda has used EPA-approved, dedicated micropurge systems for <br />water quality sample collection. Conventional water. sampling techniques are not appropriate <br />because of the significant depth of most of the Piceance Site monitoring wells. The large volume <br />of water in the well casing renders purging three casing volumes impractical. Therefore, <br />American Soda is using dedicated micropurge systems in the collection of samples from <br />monitoring wells at the Piceance Site. <br />3.1 Piceance Site Ground Water Monitoring for Years 5-30 <br />When possible, monitoring and production wells used in the first panel will become functional <br />monitoring wells for subsequent mine panels. New wells will be placed where existing wells do <br />not provide adequate coverage. The monitoring plan proposed for the period following the first 5 <br />years of commercial mining will be refined in concert with the BLM, EPA, CDMG, and Rio <br />Blanco County at the time when commercial mining extends into new mining panels beyond the <br />current mine panel. The plan will be based on the ground water flow characteristics defined by <br />the 0-5 year monitoring plan. <br />3.2 Post-Mining Ground Water Monitoring <br />At such time as the Yankee Gulch Project may permanently suspend commercial operations, <br />there may be a need for continued monitoring of the hydrologic system. In the event that the <br />project permanently suspends commercial operations, American Soda will continue to monitor <br />the hydrologic system as required. American Soda will consult with the BLM, EPA, CDMG, <br />USGS, and Rio Blanco County to determine the extent and requirements for hydrologic <br />monitoring. <br />4.0 Surface Water Monitoring Locations and Process <br />The surface water monitoring plan includes monitoring the discharge and water quality of <br />Piceance Creek and springs and seeps (if any) at the Piceance Site. There are no other known <br />sources of surface water at the Piceance Site except ephemeral streams. Precipitation will also be <br />gauged at the Piceance Site since run-off and infiltration contribute to surface water and ground <br />water, respectively. Sampling procedures will follow the requirements listed in Appendix C. <br />Piceance Creek monitoring includes discharge-and water quality monitoring, and a tracer dilution <br />study. Piceance Creek is monitored at two existing USGS stream gauging stations. One of the <br />gauging stations is located downstream of Ryan Gulch and upstream of the Piceance Site. The <br />FINAL: Modification No. 9, UIC Area Permit No. CO30858-00000 <br />Page 32 of 46 <br />