North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation

80 Pages·2010·0.4 MB·English

Final Report: North Cave Hills
Abandoned Uranium Mines
Impact Investigation

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Forest Service – Region 1
P.O. Box 7669
Missoula, MT 59807

Prepared by:

Dr. James Stone, PE Dr. Larry Stetler
Assistant Professor Associate Professor
Dept of Civil and Env Eng Dept of Geology and Geological Eng
[email protected] [email protected]

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
501 E. Saint Joseph St.
Rapid City, SD 57701

Dr. Albrecht Schwalm
Oglala Lakota College
490 Piya Wiconi
Kyle, SD 57752
[email protected]

April 18, 2007
FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................x
1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................................1
2.0 Background Information........................................................................................................1
2.1 Geomorphology....................................................................................................................1
2.2 Geology.................................................................................................................................2
2.3 Surface Water Hydrology.....................................................................................................3
2.4 Groundwater Hydrology.......................................................................................................4
2.5 Regional Climate and Wind Patterns....................................................................................6
3.0 Historical Mining Activities...................................................................................................7
3.1 Control Structures and Previous Mitigation Activities.........................................................8
3.2 Previous Investigations.........................................................................................................9
4.0 Project Objectives.................................................................................................................11
5.0 Field Sampling Strategies.....................................................................................................12
5.1 Target Analytes...................................................................................................................12
5.2 Background Sampling.........................................................................................................12
5.3 Surface Water Quality Standards........................................................................................13
6.0 Surface Water Results..........................................................................................................13
6.1 Establishment of Background Concentrations....................................................................13
6.2 Phase I Results....................................................................................................................15
6.3 Phase II Results...................................................................................................................16
6.3.1 Upper Pete’s Creek......................................................................................................17
6.3.2 Lower Pete’s Creek......................................................................................................20
7.0 Groundwater Results............................................................................................................20
8.0 Airborne Particulate Results..............................................................................................23
8.1 Bulk Soils Analysis.............................................................................................................24
8.2 Aerosol Dust Results...........................................................................................................26
8.3 Ambient Dust Results.........................................................................................................29
8.4 PM aerosol Sampling Program........................................................................................30
10
8.5 Proof of Concept.................................................................................................................31
9.0 Soil Results.............................................................................................................................32
9.1 Background Concentration of Target Analytes..................................................................32
9.2 East-Side Spoils of Bluff B.................................................................................................33
9.3 North-East Side Spoils of Bluff H......................................................................................34
9.4 Comparison of Bluff B and H Soil Results to Pioneer (2005) Study.................................35
10.0 Sediment Results.................................................................................................................36
10.1 Background Concentration of Target Analytes................................................................37
10.2 Contaminant Concentrations in Sediments.......................................................................39
10.2.1 Uranium Concentrations............................................................................................40
10.2.2 Arsenic Concentrations..............................................................................................41
10.2.3 Molybdenum Concentrations.....................................................................................42
10.2.4 Copper/Molybdenum Ratio.......................................................................................42
10.3 Sediment Contaminant Concentration and Source Distance............................................42
10.4 Contaminant Concentrations in the Pete’s Creek Drainage..............................................44
10.5 Contaminant Concentrations in Schleichart Draw............................................................45
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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
10.6 Sedimentation Pond Failure..............................................................................................46
11.0 Data Validation..................................................................................................................47
11.1 Sampling Procedures.......................................................................................................48
11.1.1 Sample Index............................................................................................................48
11.1.2 Field Books...............................................................................................................48
11.1.3 Core Logs..................................................................................................................49
11.1.4 Safety Meeting Forms...............................................................................................49
11.1.5 Sampling Location Coordinates................................................................................49
11.1.6 Sampling Completeness............................................................................................49
11.1.7 Field Duplicates........................................................................................................49
11.1.8 Equipment Rinsate Blanks........................................................................................50
11.1.9 Field Blanks..............................................................................................................51
11.1.10 Sample Custody......................................................................................................51
11.1.11 Sampling Holding Times........................................................................................51
11.2 Level IV (Litigation Quality) Data Validation................................................................51
11.3 Level III (Investigative Quality) Data Validation............................................................52
11.3.1 Data Qualifiers..........................................................................................................52
11.3.2 SDSM&T EMES Lab Metal Analysis Quality Assurance.......................................52
11.3.3 Surface Water Data Validation.................................................................................54
11.3.3.1 Dissolved Metals Internal QC Assessment............................................................54
11.3.3.2 Dissolved Metals External QC Assessment...........................................................55
11.3.3.3 Total Metals Internal QC Assessment...................................................................56
11.3.3.4 Total Metals External QC Assessment..................................................................57
11.3.4 Air Particulate Data Validation..................................................................................58
11.3.4.1 Wind Tunnel Internal QC Assessment..................................................................58
11.3.4.2 Wind Tunnel External QC Assessment.................................................................59
11.3.5 Sediment and Soil Data Validation...........................................................................60
11.3.5.1 Sediment and Soil Internal QC Assessment..........................................................60
11.3.5.2 Sediment and Soil External QC Assessment.........................................................61
11.4 Level II (Portable Instruments of Investigative Quality) Data Validation......................62
11.5 Level I (Screening Quality) Data Validation...................................................................62
12.0 Conclusions and Recommendations..................................................................................62
13.0 References............................................................................................................................65
TABLES.......................................................................................................................................68
FIGURES...................................................................................................................................103

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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1: General North Cave Hills Stratigraphy (after Curtis, 1955).......................................68
Table 3.1: Bluff identification, location, and landowner for mined Bluffs in the North Cave Hills
...............................................................................................................................................68
Table 5.1: Summary of target metal and radionuclide analytes and analytical methods employed
...............................................................................................................................................69
Table 5.2: Summary of water quality and radiochemical analytical methods employed............70
Table 5.3: South Dakota DENR surface water quality standards................................................71
Table 6.1: Surface water background sampling sites and results1 for the establishment of overall
project background concentrations.......................................................................................72
Table 6.2: Phase I surface water results.......................................................................................73
Table 6.3: Phase II surface water results.....................................................................................73
Table 6.3: Phase II surface water results.....................................................................................74
Table 7.1: Groundwater analysis parameters listed by major classification. Analytical reference
method is shown for each parameter....................................................................................76
Table 7.2: Target analytes for water samples collected during the North Cave Hills groundwater
study......................................................................................................................................77
Table 7.3: List of analytes and concentrations for each groundwater well sampled in this study78
Table 7.4: Groundwater chemistry for this study (NCHUIS) and the NWIS (USGS) data for 6
location-correlated wells from each study............................................................................80
Table 7.5: MCL exceedences in the groundwater sampled in the North Cave Hills...................80
Table 8.1: Laser particle sizing data for each site showing the particle size in each percentile
based on mass.......................................................................................................................81
Table 8.2: Surface dust analytical results with background sites shown in bold red type.........82
Table 8.3: Independent lab results compared to the SDSM&T analysis for three duplicate.......84
Table 8.4: Analytical results from the ambient dust samplers. Values given as <0.5 are below
the minimum detection limit of the analytical instrument....................................................84
Table 8.5: Comparison of methods used to collect fine dusts from four locations within the
North Cave Hills...................................................................................................................85
Table 8.6: Metals concentrations from site NCH-WT-4 in mg/kg..............................................85
Table 9.1: Sample ID’s and target analyte concentrations of samples used for establishing
background values................................................................................................................86
Table 9.2: Sample ID’s, analytical data, and mean values of background samples listed in the
Pioneer (2005) study.............................................................................................................87
Table 9.3: Sample ID’s and target analyte concentrations of soil survey below Bluff B.............88
Table 9.4: Sample ID’s and target analyte concentrations below Bluff H...................................89
Table 10.1: Core logs of background sampling sites; classification according to the Unified Soil
Classification System............................................................................................................90
Table 10.2: Sample ID and target analyte concentrations of samples used for establishing
background values................................................................................................................91
Table 10.3: Sample ID, analytical data, and mean values of background samples listed in the
Pioneer (2005) study.............................................................................................................92
Table 10.4: Sample ID and target analyte concentrations............................................................93
Table 10.5: Statistical results for drainage sediments and samples with in-situ formation..........95
Table 11.1: Summary of analytical support data..........................................................................96
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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Table 11.2: Comparison between detected target analytes found within sediment and soil rinsate
samples and concentrations of preceding and following samples collected with field
equipment..............................................................................................................................97
Table 11.3: List of data qualifiers used for data validation..........................................................98
Table 11.4: SDSM&T EMES and ELI detection limits for the 8 target analytes.........................99
Table 11.5: Failure criteria for external QC samples....................................................................99
Table 11.6: Error and the regression analysis for the dissolved metals external QC sample pairs
(SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................100
Table 11.7: Error and the regression analysis for the total metals external QC sample pairs
(SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................100
Table 11.8: Error and the regression analysis for wind tunnel external QC sample pairs
(SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................101
Table 11.9: Error and the regression analysis for sediment and soil external QC sample pairs
(SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................102

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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1: Study location map of the North Cave Hills...........................................................103
Figure 2.2: Geologic map of Harding County...........................................................................104
Figure 2.3: Groundwater study location map.............................................................................105
Figure 2.4: Oil well locations utilized in construction of stratigraphic cross-sections A-A’ (W-E)
and B-B’ (S-N)....................................................................................................................106
Figure 2.5: Resultant dip gradients drawn on the top of the Greenhorn and Charles formations
for cross-section A-A’ and B-B’ shown on Figure 2.4.......................................................107
Figure 2.6: Wind roses and site locations of the 5 climate stations used to analyze wind speed
and direction data for the North Cave Hills........................................................................108
Figure 3.1: Location of mined Bluffs Private landownership surrounding the North Cave Hills
is indicated by different color shading................................................................................109
Figure 3.2: Historical photograph of overburden disposal at Bluff G.......................................110
Figure 3.3: Current Bluff B overburden....................................................................................110
Figure 6.1: North Cave Hills Phase I surface water sampling locations...................................111
Figure 6.2: North Cave Hills Phase II surface water sampling locations..................................112
Figure 6.3: North Cave Hills surface water background sampling locations............................113
Figure 6.4: Bluff B sediment and spoil areas within the upper reaches of Pete’s Creek..........114
Figure 6.5: NCH SW 27 sampling location located near the terminus of Schleichart Draw as it
crosses the USFS road onto private land............................................................................114
Figure 6.6: NCH SW 28 sampling location below an existing stock dam within the Campbell
Creek watershed..................................................................................................................115
Figure 6.7: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved arsenic...................116
Figure 6.8: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved copper...................117
Figure 6.9: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved molybdenum.........118
Figure 6.10: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved uranium...............119
Figure 6.11: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved vanadium............120
Figure 6.12: Arsenic concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B.................121
Figure 6.13: Copper concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B.................121
Figure 6.14: Molybdenum concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B........122
Figure 6.15: Uranium concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B...............122
Figure 6.16: Vanadium concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B.............123
Figure 6.17: Bluff H spoils located up-gradient of site NCH SW 16........................................124
Figure 6.18: NCH SW 29 sampling location immediately downstream of a lignite spring
discharge.............................................................................................................................124
Figure 6.19: Area of significant sedimentation within the lower reaches of an unnamed tributary
of Pete’s Creek near NCH SW 43 sampling location.........................................................125
Figure 6.20: Close-up showing extent of sedimentation within the unnamed tributary of Pete’s
Creek near NCH SW 43......................................................................................................125
Figure 6.21: Sampling site NCH SW 57 located below a lignite outcropping within upper Pete’s
Creek...................................................................................................................................126
Figure 6.22: Slaba “Flat Top” abandoned uranium minesite located northeast of Ludlow on
private property...................................................................................................................126
Figure 6.23: NCH SW 35 sampling site within Crooked Creek, west of the South Dakota State
Route 85 overpass...............................................................................................................127
Figure 7.1: Final groundwater sampling locations. Domestic and stock wells are designated by
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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
symbol.................................................................................................................................128
Figure 7.2: Distribution of gross alpha contamination and occurrence in the groundwater system.
.............................................................................................................................................129
Figure 7.3: Uranium distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system...........................130
Figure 7.4: Uranium 235 distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system....................131
Figure 7.5: Radium 226 distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system.....................132
Figure 7.6: Selenium distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system..........................133
Figure 7.7: Copper distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system.............................134
Figure 7.8: Molybdenum distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system...................135
Figure 7.9: Lead distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system.................................136
Figure 7.10: Zinc distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system................................137
Figure 7.11: NURE study results of uranium in ppb.................................................................138
Figure 7.12: Comparison of uranium (mg/L) concentrations between USGS and this study...139
Figure 8.1: Sampling sites for phase I and II of the surface dusts and ambient atmospheric dust-
fall sites. Ambient sites are numbered 1 to 3 from an upwind to downwind direction. Red
circles are the coarsest soils and blue circles are the finest soils as defined in the text......140
Figure 8.2: Site-composite analytical results for surface dust samples.....................................141
Figure 8.3: Arsenic distribution from soil dust analysis............................................................142
Figure 8.4: Copper distribution from soil dust analysis.............................................................143
Figure 8.5: Molybdenum distribution from soil dust analysis...................................................144
Figure 8.6: Lead distribution from soil dust analysis................................................................145
Figure 8.7: Selenium distribution from soil dust analysis.........................................................146
Figure 8.8: Thorium distribution from soil dust analysis..........................................................147
Figure 8.9: Uranium distribution from soil dust analysis..........................................................148
Figure 8.10: Vanadium distribution from soil dust analysis......................................................149
Figure 8.11: Copper/molybdenum ratio distribution from soil dust analysis............................150
Figure 8.12: Ambient atmospheric dust sampler NCH-AD-2 with bird-proofing installed on the
upper rim.............................................................................................................................151
Figure 8.13: Data from three methods that were used to collect the fine dust at site NCH-WT-4,
a wind tunnel, a soil scoop on the wind tunnel trackway, and a sieving of a bulk soil sample
.............................................................................................................................................152
Figure 9.1: A major gully has cut a broad swath through the mine spoils below the major
discharge point on the bench of Bluff B.............................................................................153
Figure 9.2: Deep gully cut into gentle slope at the base of Bluff B............................................153
Figure 9.3: Shallowing of gully at USFS-administered/private land interface to knee-deep.....154
Figure 9.4: Shallow bed of major discharge channel just above Riley Pass Road.....................154
Figure 9.5: Incipient gullying on Gene Feist property................................................................155
Figure 9.6: Washover fan of silt and sand below mine spoils of Bluff B...................................155
Figure 9.7: Uranium concentrations of the soil survey on the east side of Bluff B....................156
Figure 9.8: Arsenic concentrations of the soil survey on the east side of Bluff B......................157
Figure 9.9: Copper/molybdenum ratios of the soil survey on the east side of Bluff B..............158
Figure 9.10: Uranium concentrations of three soil cores around the toe of a large slide mass on
the northeast side of Bluff H...............................................................................................159
Figure 9.11: Arsenic concentrations of three soil cores collected around the toe of a large slide
mass on the northeast side of Bluff H.................................................................................160
Figure 9.12: Copper/molybdenum ratios of three soil cores collected around the toe of a large
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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
slide mass on the northeast side of Bluff H........................................................................161
Figure 9.13: Uranium concentrations for Bluffs A-I soil sampling sites of the Pioneer (2005)
study....................................................................................................................................162
Figure 9.14: Uranium concentrations for background and Bluffs J – L soil samples listed in the
Pioneer (2005) study...........................................................................................................163
Figure 9.15: Arsenic concentrations for Bluffs A-I soil sampling sites listed in the Pioneer (2005)
study....................................................................................................................................164
Figure 9.16: Arsenic concentrations for background and Bluff J – L soil samples listed in the
Pioneer (2005) study...........................................................................................................165
Figure 9.17: Molybdenum concentrations for Bluff A – I soil sample listed in the Pioneer (2005)
study....................................................................................................................................166
Figure 9.18: Molybdenum concentrations for background and Bluff J – L soil samples listed in
the Pioneer (2005) study.....................................................................................................167
Figure 9.19: Copper/molybdenum ratios for Bluff A – I soil sample listed in the Pioneer (2005)
study....................................................................................................................................168
Figure 9.20: Copper/molybdenum ratios for background and Bluff J – L soil samples listed in the
Pioneer (2005) study...........................................................................................................169
Figure 10.1: Locations of background sampling sites used for establishing background
concentrations in drainage sediments.................................................................................170
Figure 10.2: Locations and uranium concentrations in drainage samples..................................171
Figure 10.3: Locations and uranium concentrations of core samples in the upper Pete’s Creek
drainage...............................................................................................................................172
Figure 10.4: Sampling locations and arsenic concentrations of drainage samples.....................173
Figure 10.5: Locations and arsenic concentrations of sediment samples in the upper Pete’s Creek
drainage...............................................................................................................................174
Figure 10.6: Sampling locations and molybdenum concentrations of drainage samples...........175
Figure 10.7: Sampling locations and molybdenum concentrations in the upper Pete’s Creek
drainage...............................................................................................................................176
Figure 10.8: Locations and copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples............................177
Figure 10.9: Locations and copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples in the upper Pete’s
Creek drainage....................................................................................................................178
Figure 10.10: Uranium concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources..................................................................................................................179
Figure 10.11: Arsenic concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources..................................................................................................................180
Figure 10.12: Molybdenum concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources..................................................................................................................181
Figure 10.13: Copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources..................................................................................................................182
Figure 10.14: Uranium concentration in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned
mine sites............................................................................................................................183
Figure 10.15: Arsenic concentration in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned mine
sites.....................................................................................................................................184
Figure 10.16: Molybdenum concentration in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned
mine sites............................................................................................................................185
Figure 10.17: Copper/molybdenum ratios in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned
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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
mine sites............................................................................................................................186
Figure 10.18: Uranium concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................187
Figure 10.19: Arsenic concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................188
Figure 10.20: Molybdenum concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................189
Figure 10.21: Copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................190
Figure 10.22: Uranium concentration of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage 191
Figure 10.23: Arsenic concentration of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage..192
Figure 10.24: Molybdenum concentrations of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek
drainage...............................................................................................................................193
Figure 10.25: Copper/molybdenum ratios of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage
.............................................................................................................................................194
Figure 10.26: Uranium concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................195
Figure 10.27: Arsenic concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................196
Figure 10.28: Molybdenum concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................197
Figure 10.29: Copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples plotted against their distance to
potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................198
Figure 10.30: Uranium concentrations of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw.....................199
Figure 10.31: Arsenic concentrations of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw.......................200
Figure 10.32: Molybdenum concentrations of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw..............201
Figure 10.33: Copper/molybdenum ratios of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw................202

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FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
APPENDIX

Appendix A Analytical Results

Appendix A1 SDSM&T Surface Water Data

Appendix A1 SW All WQ Parameters Phase I ELI.pdf
Appendix A1 SW pH,ORP Field Measurements.xls
Appendix A1 SW Results.xls

Appendix A2 SDSM&T Ground Water Data

Appendix A2 Groundwater Quality Analytical Results.xls
Appendix A2 GW-C Fiest well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-Clarkson Ranch well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-D Oritham well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-E Johnson well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-Fiest, Gilbert well data.xls
Appendix A2 GW-G Miller well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-J Clarkson well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-J Miller well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-L Brown well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-L Brown well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-N Ketchum well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-results.xls
Appendix A2 GW-T Hafner well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-T Kalisiak well construction log.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-USGS well locations.pdf
Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Welch.txt
Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Welch(2).txt
Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Rotenberger.txt
Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Rotenberger(2).txt
Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Rotenberger(3).txt
Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Johnson.txt

Appendix A3 SDSM&T Air Particulates Data

Appendix A3 Air -Soil Particle Size Data Sheets.pdf
Appendix A3 WT Total Metals Analytical Results.xls

Appendix A4 SDSM&T Sediments and Soils Data

Appendix A4 Pioneer 2005 Analytical Results.xls
Appendix A4 Sediment and Soils Analytical Results.xls
Appendix A4 Sediment Sampling Distance to Source.xls

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