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1 <br />deleteriously affect the post reclamation productivity of their land.This paper explores the basis <br />of the Morgan’s contentions. <br />QualityData <br />Surface Water chemistry data, specifically electrical conductivity (EC)exists from varying <br />locations in and around the New Horizon Mine.These data can be used to determine potential <br />impacts to soil resources if different water sources are used for irrigation.Many of these water <br />quality samples were obtained by Ms. Turner (a member of the Morgan Family), or a <br />representative of hers, and analyzed by her selected laboratory. The quality and reproducibility <br />of the water quality samples taken by Ms. Turner are unknown. New Horizon Mine also obtains <br />water quality data to satisfy their NPDES permits. The water quality data collected by New <br />Horizon Mine exhibits EC lower thanthe water quality samples gathered and analyzed by Ms. <br />Turner. <br />Water quality fromthe CC ditch was evaluated to determine if it would be a good candidate to <br />use for agricultural leaching, if those activities were deemed necessary. Water from the CC ditch <br />is a primary source of irrigation water for the Morgan Property. <br />In general water quality data obtainedfrom surface watersources, CC ditch and ponds at 47 <br />North and 47 South,had ECrangingbetween 340 to 543 micromhos percentimeter (umhos/cm). <br />In addition,Ms. Turnerobtainedground water samples from varyinglocationsin the mine pit <br />within the mine perimeter.Electrical conductivity values obtained from within the mine <br />perimeterrange from 4,740 to 5,500 umhos/cm. The mine perimeter water qualitysamples were <br />again analyzed by laboratories selectedby Mrs. Turner. <br />Based on guidelinesfor agricultural irrigation water quality suitability, the surface water sources <br />near the New Horizon Mine have a slight to moderate restrictions for all crops, based on salinity <br />(Hanson et al. 1999). The mine pit ground water would have no restriction when used to irrigate <br />saline tolerant crops, slight to moderate restrictions when irrigating moderately tolerant and <br />moderately sensitive crops,and severe restrictions when using the water to irrigate sensitive crop <br />species. <br />Becausethe data collected and analyzed by Ms. Turner always had a greater EC than data from <br />other sources, using thesedata added some conservatism to the calculated outcomes. In other <br />words by using Ms. Turner’s data the following analysis indicates a worst-case scenario. <br />Electrical Conductivity of the saturated paste extract (ECe) is an estimate of soil salinity (Soil <br />Improvement Committee, 2002; and Hanson et. al, 1999). Soil ECeis measured to determine the <br />total estimated salinity of a soil. Soluble salts are common in arid soils. The salts are typically <br />derived as natural minerals in the soil parent material weather. This mineral weathering has been <br />releasing salts into the environment for thousands of years. A saline soil is considered to be any <br />soil that has an EC greater than 4.0 dS/m (Ayers and Westcot, 1985). At high enough levels, soil <br />salinity can negatively impact crop growth due to osmotic stress (Hanson et al., 1999),which can <br />1 <br />Under the current permit (PR06), reclamation will not be complete until the land is as productive as it was prior to <br />mining. <br />4 <br />{00136879.1 } <br />