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17 <br /> Effects of the Maxwell and Allen mines on water chemistry in the <br /> Purgatoire River were studied and reported by Water, Waste & Land, Ltd. <br /> 1 (1980) . They have summarized the minimum, maximum and mean values at <br /> F <br /> the USGS surface water gaging station at Stonewall (above both mines); <br /> {t <br /> f then, based on analysis of mine discharges at the Allen and Maxwell mines <br /> and seepage from the active refuse pile at the Allen Mine, they calculated <br /> changes in concentration of measured elements and their total effects <br /> on stream quality of the Purgatoire River. <br /> As a basis for evaluating the changes in concentration calculated <br /> by_ Water, Waste & Larid, Ltd. , I reviewed the Colorado Department of <br /> Health regulations (Colorado Department of Health, 1979) ; the Colorado <br /> Division of Wildlife recommendations for maintaining water quality for <br /> aquatic 1 °fe (Davies and Goettl , 1976) ; Quality Criteria for Water (EPA, <br /> 1976) , commonly called the EPA "Red Book"; and A Review of the EPA Red <br /> I <br /> Book (Thurston, et al . 1979) . In addition, I discussed the Water, <br /> Waste & Land, Ltd. report with Patrick H. Davies, toxicologist with the <br /> Colorado Division of Wildlife, and with fishery scientists at Colorado <br /> State University. <br /> As a result of these reviews and discussions, I conclude that the <br /> chemical changes reported by Water, Waste & Land, Ltd. should not create <br /> an environment toxic to the indigenous populations of fish. Neither <br /> should these changes significantly affect the productive capacity of <br /> food chain organisms supporting the fish populations. <br /> Unfortunately, interpretation of the significance of changes in <br />