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Daniel Arnold, Esq. April 6, 2011 <br />Denver Water Page 9 of 12 <br />location of the corehole contained in Cotter's September 3, 2010 letter to DRMS, <br />describing the excavated corehole pipe (the Cotter letter is included as Attachment B). <br />The corehole is at the southwest corner of the former emergency storage pond. This <br />location is approximately 100 to 150 feet from the J-10 location identified on Figure 13, <br />and coincident with the L -10 location shown on Figure 13. The location of the <br />discharging corehole was also pointed out by Cotter representatives during the November <br />5, 2010 site tour and the corehole was observed to be near the L-10 location, not the J -10 <br />location. Therefore, it is likely that the discharging corehole is L -10, not J -10, and this <br />would explain why the water chemistry was slightly different than the mine pool because <br />the L -10 corehole is slightly outside of the workings. Furthermore, Figure 13 indicates <br />that there is another corehole at the L-10 location that is directed to the southeast, and <br />appears to be identified as I 12. <br />The significance of the new corehole information is that corehole J -10 was drilled into <br />the workings and collared near the present -day creek. It remains unplugged and could be <br />discharging mine pool water to the alluvium. In addition to J -10, the comment identifies <br />corehole FFC -1 as being unplugged and collared near the Steve Adit. Installation of a <br />well or lysimeter near the Steve Level bench to monitor for possible mine pool seepage is <br />the proposed plan of action to determine if the corehole is impacting the alluvium. <br />Considering the significant water quality impacts to the creek, passive monitoring is not <br />an appropriate course of action and the collared areas of both J -10 and FFC -1 should be <br />investigated and plugged. The second corehole at L -10 (I 12) should be plugged as well. <br />The comment on coreholes also mentions that there is a compilation of information on <br />the unplugged coreholes and the title of Figure 13 implies that unplugged drill holes are <br />identified in the EPP. Our review of the EPP found no information on unplugged drill <br />holes. This information should be made available along with the historical maps of <br />corehole locations for independent review and confirmation. <br />Isolation of the creek from alluvial groundwater is being considered by Cotter. Given the <br />strong hydraulic connection of the two, this is an appropriate corrective measure to <br />protect the water quality in the creek in the near term. The alluvial groundwater will <br />remain impacted by the alluvial fill, waste rock, and mine pool water, and each requires <br />additional characterization and remedial action to protect groundwater quality in the long <br />term. <br />REFERENCES <br />ARCADIS /Malcolm Pirnie. 2011. Technical Memorandum — Draft Review of the <br />Schwartzwalder Mine Environmental Protection Plan. Prepared for Denver Water. <br />January 25. <br />Bernhard, G. et al., 2001. Radiochimica Acta 89: 511 -518. <br />Bernhard, G. et al., 1996. Radiochimica Acta 74: 87 -91. <br />