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ephemeral tributary that runs into the settling pond as well (location referred to as'trib or tributary'). <br />The Tributary however, needs to be taken into account since it introduces a certain amount of the <br />measurable metals load to the pond. Thus, the pound outfall (or the Mountain Top Pond) water quality <br />is be a reflection of Lower Mountain Top outfall water quality PLUS the tributary water qualify. Finally, <br />MT-2 is the last point along the flow pathway and should equal the combined water quality <br />characteristics of the portal effluent (Upper Mountain Top location), the tributary and the settling pond <br />outfall (Mountain Top Pond) PLUS any water quality impacts related to water contact with the waste <br />rock which comprises the access road. <br />Upper Sneffels Creek background characterization - 2010 <br />One sample was collected in September, 2010 to characterize the baseline water quality setting above <br />the Mountain Top portal discharges (both Upper and Lower) prior to any underground activity. This <br />sample is referred to as CDPS-002 and is above gradient of both the Upper and Lower Mountain Top <br />Mine portal discharges. This sample was collected as part of a CDPS permit application for the UPPER <br />Mountain Top. However, the results are applicable to the Lower as well as it represents background <br />water quality for the basin. The suite of analysis completed was coordinated with CDPHE. As directed by <br />CDPHE the analytes included; "The parameters in #24 (item 24 within the CDPS application permit) must <br />be done. WET testing must be done and 1 would recommend chronic testing as it is high up in a <br />watershed. At this time you can limit the priority pollutant scan and toxic pollutants to PCBs. PCBs have <br />been found to be present in mines where there is electric equipment under ground." The results are <br />provided in Tables 3 and 4. In addition, whole effluent toxicity tests for two species were conducted. <br />The results yielded no significant difference from controls. The supporting raw laboratory information <br />for these tests can be made available upon request. <br />Governor Basin Water Quality Characterization - 2007 to present <br />Additional information that characterizes the Sneffels Creek water quality is available as a result of <br />samples gathered for the Liberty mine which is located just below the Lower Mountain Top site. The <br />Liberty is leased by The Mining Company, Inc., (who has agreed to share the water quality analysis <br />results with the St. Sophia Ltd. Company) and has gathered 5 baseline quarters of samples, in addition to <br />follow-on annual samples from Sneffels Creek as part of their existing DRMS Notice of Intent permit <br />conditions. Samples have been taken from a location just above and two locations below the Lower <br />Mountain Top outfall along Sneffels Creek in order to establish 'baseline' water quality characteristics as <br />part of the Liberty sampling regimen. The above location is referred to as 'MT-1', the two below are <br />referred to as MT-2 and MT-3 and are shown on Figure 2. For the purposes of this permit application, <br />the MT-1 samples results since 2007 and are summarized in Tables 5 and 6. The supporting laboratory <br />information is rather voluminous but can be made available upon request. <br />L.f ) <br />a) <br />bn <br />a