The current ground water 



monitoring plan involves sampling 



about 44 wells twice each year. 



The current ground water monitoring plan involves sampling about 44 wells twice 

 each year. Water quality trends in most wells are reportedly stable, and the ground 

 water chemistry meets drinking water standards with some exceptions. Water samples 

 from a few wells that are located between mine waste facilities and the water 

 collection and treatment systems sometime exceed standards. Others that were 

 drilled into unmined mineralized rock show results that exceed drinking water 

 standards for arsenic with no evidence of any influence from mining activity. Also, 

 deep monitoring wells located between the north edge of the Landusky pit and Swift 



Gulch have shown deteriorating water 

 chemistry for the past few years. ^^ The 

 surface and ground water monitoring 

 program costs approximately $60,000 

 per year, and it is deemed adequate for 

 current needs. 



The SEIS concluded that the surface and ground water in Lodgepole Creek is not 

 impacted by mining activities. Very little mining occurred at the Zortman mine in the 

 headwaters of Lodgepole Creek. Water quality monitoring on Lodgepole Creek at the 

 reservation boundary shows no change in water chemistry during mine operations. 

 Alder and Ruby Gulch join near the town of Zortman, and Ruby Gulch typically 

 infiltrates into the ground near there. Mine-impacted water near the mine site 

 upstream from the town is captured at several locations and treated at the Zortman 

 water treatment plant. 



On the north side of the Landusky mine, there are no water capture and treatment 

 facilities for King Creek and Swift Gulch. Swift Gulch wasn't identified as a problem 

 when the Consent Decree was signed in 1996. As noted, there are contaminated seeps 

 entering Swift Gulch from an as yet unidentified source and the water quality in Swift 

 Gulch appears to be getting worse with time according to the DEQ. Pegasus was 

 required to construct a water collection and passive treatment facility for King Creek 

 but failed to complete the project prior to bankruptcy. In 2000, the EPA removed 

 78,000 cubic yards of tailings left from historic mining activities in King Creek. In 2002 

 and 2003, the DEQ's contractors removed the waste rock dump from the head of the 

 King Creek drainage. The water in the headwaters of King Creek has been impacted by 

 mining. Although the water is not acidic, nitrate and selenium levels exceed some 

 standards." The DEQ does not anticipate King Creek to be a serious future problem, 

 but sampling is continuing. 



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