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TR -18 to Permit M- 1977 -342 <br />Environmental Protection Plan <br />9. GROUNDWATER QUALITY DATA <br />9.1. Local Groundwater Uses <br />Mine: As discussed above, groundwater at the Mine is limited to a thin lens of alluvium that is <br />bounded on all sides by low permeability, Precambrian Silver Plume Granite. Therefore, the <br />current and future groundwater use at the site is limited to recharge of the West Fork of Clear <br />Creek. The site hydrogeologic conditions cannot support development of groundwater resources <br />for any other beneficial use. <br />Mill: Current and future groundwater use at the Henderson Mill is limited. Groundwater within <br />the Henderson Mill property boundary occurs primarily in the areas downstream of the tailings <br />storage facility. Within these areas, current and future domestic and agricultural development of <br />groundwater would not be likely, given the site location and climate conditions. The primary use <br />of groundwater at the Mill site is recharge to the Williams Fork River. <br />9.2. Groundwater Quality Data <br />A large database of groundwater quality data exists in the record and on file as part of this <br />Permit. Five quarters of groundwater data were recently submitted along with the approved <br />GWMP. As such, this data is not being resubmitted with this EPP. As discussed in this document <br />and at more length in TR -16, due to Henderson's geology, groundwater is forced to the surface <br />in close proximity to Henderson operations. Surface water quality data upstream and <br />downstream of potentially impacted groundwater indicates that Mine and Mill operations are not <br />adversely impacting surface water quality downstream of the sites (see Appendix H). <br />TR -16 stipulates that ongoing routine surface and groundwater monitoring will be conducted and <br />submitted to the DRMS. The data will be sufficient to provide a basis for the evaluation of <br />reclamation performance standards and the adequacy of Environmental Protection Facility <br />design, maintenance and operation. <br />9.3. Groundwater Quality Parameters and Analytical Detection Limits <br />Groundwater collection and analyses procedures at the Mine and Mill sites are described in TR- <br />16, including sampling parameters, monitoring locations, sampling and analytical procedures, <br />detection limits, and frequency. <br />Sampling procedures are summarized in TR -16 were developed to meet the following minimum <br />requirements: <br />• Generally, all ground and surface water samples shall be collected and analyzed in <br />accordance with approved industry standards using methodologies, including quality <br />assurance /quality control, similar to those required of major Federal and State monitoring <br />programs and other programs of systematic monitoring or academic research; <br />• Surface water samples and measurements shall be representative of the nature of the <br />monitored water body; and <br />• Groundwater samples will be collected and managed in accordance with the Colorado <br />Department of Public Health and Environment's Suggested Sampling Protocol for <br />Groundwater Monitoring Wells, as well as internally developed procedures. <br />Climax Molybdenum Company <br />Henderson Operations <br />October, 2012 <br />Page 28 of 40 <br />