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Water quality could possibly be a
major concern for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Contamination of the ground
water from past mining is thought to be the cause. Runoff from the chat pilings
runs into local streams that contribute to Elm Creek and the Neosho River,
which run through tribal land. The plans of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma are to
conduct a water quality test on the Neosho River and Elm Creek. To ensure safe
health for the tribe. Lead contamination in the ground
water, Elm Creek and the Neosho River is the major water issue the Miami Tribe
of Oklahoma is dealing with. The contamination is thought to come from the
Picher Cardin mining area. Picher Cardin is a mining area in the northeast
corner of Oklahoma. It was mined for lead and zinc in the 1920’s and the
1930’s. After it was mined there was no clean up, so the pilings from the
mining were left on top of the ground. Instead of being disposed of correctly.
The miners would not go to great extent to get all the lead out of the rock, so
the pilings still had lead in them. In addition, the lead dust that went into
the air and on the ground. Over time, the lead dust traveled
through the air to streams and surrounding areas. The rainfall eventually
filled up the mineshafts and the water in the mineshafts would seep though into
the ground. Because the mineshafts were not stripped of the lead, the water
that was seeping through was probably contaminated with lead. That means that
the lead would be getting into the ground water supply and the soil. After the
mineshafts filled up with water, they flood over when there were large amounts
of rain. When they flooded over, they would run into the local streams, which
ran into Elm Creek and the Neosho River. In addition, the pilings that were
left behind by the mining would get runoff from them carrying away the lead
that was on the surface of the pilings to absorb into the ground. Therefore,
the soil and the ground water are contaminated with lead. If the ground water
and soil are contaminated it is going to effect the wells. The contamination
that reaches the creek and river has the possibility of killing off the aquatic
life as well as harming the wildlife. If the wildlife such as deer or turkey is
contaminated, this also has the chance of making it back to people. Because if
the wildlife is killed during hunting season and they are contaminated and
people eat them, the contamination is in the meat. The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) says that the amount of lead you can have in the water and still be safe
.015 Milligrams per Liter (Mg/L) which is not a very high number, so it must be
hazardous. The health effect lead causes in infants and children are delay in
physical and mental development. In adults kidney problems and high blood
pressure. The source of the contamination could be from corrosion of household
plumbing or erosion of natural deposits. The purpose of this testing is to
ensure safe drinking water to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. In addition,
conserve the fish and wildlife around the area. Thus protecting and ensuring
the future of the tribe for future generations. The plan to achieve this goal
is in the following objectives. Objective number one is to find the
area in which I will be testing and set up plan of where I will start. The area
in which I will be testing is Elm Creek and the Neosho River. But only where
they come in contact with tribal grounds. Water quality sampling sites, for
enforcement purposes should be selected so as to assess clearly the impact of
mining activities on the water resources and to assure that comparisons can be
made with subsequent samples. Because physical conditions at mining sites are
continually changing, a sampling scheme must have enough flexibility to provide
comparable data over a wide range of physical and hydrologic conditions. In
addition, permitted point-source discharge from distributed areas is always
considered in sampling because of specific operator liabilities for discharge
quality. Effluent violations are most likely to
occur during very low or very high flows. For surface water the common ions and
total dissolved solids are usually near their maximum when flows are very low.
Suspended solids, on the other hand, are generally highest during high flows. Inspection personnel are required to collect
samples of surface water and groundwater from such diverse sources as: streams
impoundments, wells, mine openings, and springs and seeps. Emphasis is placed on the need to
obtain representative samples, properly collected and adequately documented in
the field at the time of collection. The inspector should exercise proper care
and custody of sample until they are delivered for appropriate analysis. No one scheme can be considered the
only correct approach to selecting water-quality sampling sites and
establishing sampling frequency. One or a combination of schemes may be
utilized by either the inspector or the operator to verify the extent to which
requirements set forth in the Permit Application Package are being met. Objective number two is the testing of wells and the
best location. Well location, sampling frequency, and parameters to be measured
will vary form site to site, but all are usually specified in the Permit
Application Package. On a given site, the operator may be required to verify
that existing Wells
have been inventoried and to obtain drilling and other construction data in
addition to sampling such source for water quality data. Observation-well data are used to
determine the effects of mining activities on groundwater quality and quantity
and to predict quality changes in streams during low flows when streams consist
mainly of ground water component. Existing wells are not always suitably
located to provide all the data that may be needed. Permit application packages
often note that the wells nearby residences will be used to monitor changes in
groundwater elevations or characteristics. In some areas, these may be above or
below strata being mined. Horizontal movement just above an impermeable stratum
is munch more likely than downward percolation of water. A relatively small
number of groundwater samples may be adequate to describe water quality
characteristics in an unmined area. Random sampling may suffice in undisturbed
areas or in areas where ground water is not extensively used. However, in
mining areas where excavation appreciably influences recharge or discharge it
may be necessary to collect samples more frequently. At times, the inspector
may find it desirable to collect a well-water sample in order to validate or supplement
those supplied by the operator. Objective number three is testing of
streams. The customary approach to determining the effects of mine drainage is
to samples the receiving stream above and below inflow from the mine area. This
scheme is useful in evaluating the extent to which the receiving stream has
changed. Flow measurement of both mine discharge and receiving stream are also
needed. In case of nonpoint discharge to streams, the effect to mine drainage
may be gradually imposed on the receiving stream over a geographically wide
front. In such cases, it may be necessary to sample the receiving stream at a
number of places along the effected portion to identify reaches receiving the
major impact from mining. It is important to choose sampling
sites that will minimize the “masking” effect of inflow from tributaries or
other nonpoint sources. Avoid sampling streams at points, such as backwaters,
that are not representative of the main body of flowing water. If streaks or
swirls of sediment or color are apparent in the flowing stream, include a
representative portion of each sample. Prior planning with maps and a sampling
outline will often reduce effort and prove more effective, especially when
multiple samples are to be collected at various locations. The frequency with which streams are
sampled for background information will vary according to the quantity and
quality of the disturbed area discharge, the rate of stream flow, and the
relation of natural daily and seasonal variations to water quality characteristics.
In some cases where effluent violations are suspected, one-time samples may
provide the data necessary for enforcement decisions. Other cases, for example
where stream contamination is apparently related to precipitation events may
require the sampling be coordinated with changing stream flow or stage.
Suspected instance of deliberate pollution require preparation and
often-unusual inspection hours and techniques. Objective number four water flow of
the creek and river. Whether water runs off or infiltrates during a rainstorm
depends on slope, vegetative cover, soil conditions, and soil compaction.
Infiltration will be increased by mining activities that produce cast spoil
that is full of voids. This may also result in greater permeability and
significant increases in water-holding capacity. However, overburden moved by
either scraper or truck will tend to be compacted and will likely have more
runoff than the undisturbed site. Surface mining may increase
groundwater storage capacity. Any increase in capacity will depend on both the
method of spoil placement and the charter of the spoil itself. It is possible
that “recharge zones” may be created by selecting those portions of the spoil
that have the best infiltration characteristics and placing them where surface
water can be diverted into them. Increased infiltration usually means
higher and longer base flow of streams when the water eventually reappears in
springs or seeps. Increased stream flow during dry weather and prolonged flow
in streams that normally flow only intermittently are generally considered
desirable. Studies have shown an increase in dry weather stream flow flowing
surface mining. Other studies have shown that storm peaks flows may be several
times higher from mined watersheds than from unmined areas. The amount and
velocity of runoff during storms will be a major factor for erosion and hence
the amount of sedimentation. Objective number five putting in
monitoring wells. These are wells that are placed throughout the area that is
being monitored, generally one at the beginning and end and maybe one in the
middle somewhere. The purpose of the monitoring well is to see if there is any
contamination in the ground water. If the wells that you all ready have are
contaminated you would put in monitoring wells because they are new and not yet
contaminated. They would also help to determine where the contamination starts. Objective number six if water is
contaminated find way to get water quality back to EPA standards. If after doing,
the tests they determine that the water is contaminated supply-bottled water to
residence until able find solution. Need to get rid of pilings that could be
major factor in contamination? Solution maybe burry the pilings underground in
a leak proof lining. In conclusion, I plan to try to find
the water quality for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. In the process of trying to
find the water quality, I will follow the EPA guidelines. If there is
contamination in the water, I will find the best possible solution. |