MONTANA SURFACE WASTEWATER
IMPOUNDMENT ASSESSMENT
FINAL STATE REPORT
for the
Water Supply Branch
Ground Water Protection Section
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
December, 1979
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MONTANA SURFACE WASTEWATER
IMPOUNDMENT ASSESSMENT
FINAL STATE REPORT
by
Darrel E. Dunn
Earth Science Services, Inc.
Bozeman, Montana 59715
and
Federick C. Shewman
Water Quality Bureau
Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences
Helena, Montana 59601
for the
Water Supply Branch
Ground Water Protection Section
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
December, 1979
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CONTENTS
Chapter Page
1 Executive Summary.. 1
2 Recommendations and Conclusion 5
3 Montana SIA Overview and Methodology 7
Purpose of Montana Participation 7
Personnel.. 7
Method of Locating Impoundments 8
Method of Assessing Ground Water Contamination
Potential...... 13
Coordination with RCRA Inventory 15
4 Presentation and Analysis of Data 16
Summary of Location of Wastewater Impoundments 16
Summary of Operational Features of Impoundments 22
Summary of Ground Water Contamination Potential of
Impoundments 27
Summary of Rating of Potential Endangerment to Water
Supply 37
Summary of Confidence Ratings............... 42
Resource Affected by Impoundments 45
5 Water Table Aquifers 47
6 Claims of Ground Water Pollution from Surface Impoundments. 49
Method and Scope of Investigation 49
Great Western Sugar Company, Bi11ings. 49
Krezeleck Rendering Plant, Havre, 54
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CONTENTS (continued)
Chapter Page
Treasure State Acres, Helena 55
Plentywood and Cherry Creek Sewage Treatment Ponds.... 56
Oil and Gas Impoundments 57
King Arthur's Mobil Home Park, Bozeman 57
Municipal Sludge Drying Beds, Helena 58
Summary of Ground Water Pollution Claims 61
7 Evaluation of Existing State Program 63
Summary of Programs 63
Board of Health and Environmental Sciences 64
Montana Department of Health and Environmental
Sciences 65
Oil and Gas Conservation Division 70
Department of State Lands „ 70
Monitoring Efforts and Enforcement History of the
State of Montana 71
Adequacy of Resources and Funding., 72
8 Evaluation of Existing Federal Programs 74
Current State Involvement in Federal Programs 74
Recommendations Regarding Federal Programs 75
9 Review of Selected Ground Water Monitor Well Systems 77
Bridger Pines Subdivision, Gallatin County 77
Hebgen Lake Estates, Gallatin County 79
Holly Sugar Corporation, Sidney 81
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CONTENTS (continued)
Appendix Page
I Ground Water Contamination Potential Rating Tables 87
II Sources of Information on Water Table Aquifers 91
III Resumes 98
i v
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TABLES
Chapter 4
No. Page
1 Number of impoundments located and assessed \-j
2 Location of impoundment sites by county 17
3 List of places associated with more than one impoundment site. 20
4 Purpose of assessed impoundments 23
5 Age of assessed impoundments 23
6 Number of assessed impoundments in use 25
7 Size of all assessed impoundments at sites 25
8 Average daily influent to all impoundments at assessed sites.. 25
9 Estimated average daily influent to all impoundments in
Montana 25
10 Types of bottom liners in assessed impoundments 26
11 Number of assessed sites with monitoring wells 26
12 Number of assessed impoundments reported to have affected
drinking water wells 26
13 Number of assessed impoundments associated with each element
in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1) 29
14 Number of assessed agricultural impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1)... 29
15 Number of assessed industrial impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1)... 30
16 Number of assessed mining impoundments associated with each
element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1) 30
17 Number of assessed municipal impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1)... 31
18 Number of assessed oil and gas impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1)... 31
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No.
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
TABLES (continued)
Paqe
Number of assessed impoundments associated with each element
in the ground water availability matrix (step 2) 33
Number of assessed agricultural impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2). 33
Number of assessed industrial impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2). 34
Number of assessed mining impoundments associated with each
element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2) 34
Number of assessed municipal impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2). 35
Number of assessed oil and gas impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2). 35
Number of assessed impoundments associated with each ground
water quality rating (step 3) 36
Number of assessed impoundments associated with each hazard
potential rating of waste (step 4) 36
Summary of ground water contamination potential scores
(step 5) 38
Standard partial regression coefficients of step 1 through
step 4 rating scores on step 5 scores in rating ground water
contamination potential 38
Number of assessed impoundments associated with each element
of the health hazard matrix (step 6) 39
Number of assessed agricultural impoundments associated with
each element of the health hazard matrix (step 6) 39
Number of assessed industrial impoundments associated with
each element of the health hazard matrix (step 6) 40
Number of assessed mining impoundments associated with each
element of the health hazard matrix (step 6) 40
Number of assessed municipal impoundments associated with each
element of the health hazard matrix (step 6) 41
Number of assessed oil and gas impoundments associated with
each element of the health hazard matrix (step 6) 41
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TABLES (continued)
No. Page
35 Number of assessed impoundments associated with each
confidence rating 43
Chapter 5
36 Water table aquifers in Montana 48
Chapter 6
37 Concentrations of nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen in a
monitoring well near the Helena sludge drying beds 60
TABLES-APPENDIX
1-1 Step 1, rating of the unsaturated zone 87
1-2 Step 2, rating of the ground water availability 88
1-3 Step 3, rating of the ground water quality 89
1-4 Step 6, rating the potential endangerment to a water supply... 90
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CHAPTER 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The investigation described in this report consisted of (1) locating
and counting surface wastewater impoundments in the State of Montana,
(2) assessing the ground water contamination potential of randomly selected
impoundments, (3) reviewing claims of ground water pollution from surface
wastewater impoundments, (4) reviewing ground water quality monitoring
systems at selected sites, (5) reviewing State and Federal programs related
to controlling ground water pollution from surface wastewater impoundments,
and (6) analyzing the information collected. The impoundments were located
primarily by reviewing the various files at the Montana Water Quality
Bureau, by soliciting information from County Sanitarians and various
State agencies that have information on impoundments, and by contacting
owners of oil and gas wells that were reported to produce water. In
addition, a few impoundments were located while making low-level flights
during the assessment of ground water contamination potential of selected
impoundments. A total of 676 sites with impoundments were located (see
Table 1, Chapter 4).
A random number table was used to select a sample from each of the
five impoundment categories—agricultural, industrial, mining, municipal,
and oil and gas. The ground water contamination potential for this random
sample of impoundments was then conducted in accordance with A Manual for
Evaluatinq Contamination Potential of Surface Impoundments (EPA 570/9-78-
003) and other techincal guidence provided by the U„ S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). This assessment included (1) collecting informa-
tion from the files of the Montana Water Quality Bureau, (2) collecting
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geologic and hydrologic information pertaining to each pond from pertinent
published and unpublished reports and maps, (3) inspecting the impound-
ments from low-flying aircraft, (4) contacting the owners, and (5) con-
tacting County Sanitarians and other individuals who might have additional
i nformation.
Investigations of claims of ground water pollution from surface
impoundments and investigations of ground water monitoring systems were
conducted by (1) gathering information from the Montana Water Quality
Bureau files, (2) soliciting information from the owners of the impound-
ments and others with knowledge of the impoundments, (3) reviewing pertinent
geologic and hydrologic reports, and (4) examining the impoundments on the
ground and/or from low-flying aircraft.
The data collected was analyzed by utilizing a digital computer to
produce various summaries pertaining to the location, operational features,
and ground water contamination potential of the surface impoundments. The
location and count of impoundments showed that they are distributed through-
out the State, but municipal and industrial impoundments tend to be con-
centrated around the centers of population and industry, and the oil and
gas impoundments are concentrated in the counties where the major oil
and gas fields are present. A few impoundment systems are quite large.
For example, the Hoerner Waldorf plant near Missoula has about 34 ponds
and cells.
The age of the assessed impoundments ranges up to 32 years, but the
majority are less than 10 years old. Estimated daily rates of flow of
wastewater into the impoundments at assessed sites ranged from 3 gallons
per day to 24 million gallons per day„ Estimated total inflow to all
impoundments in the State is 745 million gallons per day or 2,286 acre-feet
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per year. Only a small percentage of the impoundments are known to be
lined, and very few have ground water monitoring wells. Very few have
been reported to have affected drinking water supplies, and the review
of claims of contamination of drinking water supplies indicated that most
of the claims are not substantiated by direct evidence. Rather, they are
claims of potential pollution based on the assumption that wastewater
which seeps into the ground necessarily pollutes ground water.
Results of the ground water contamination potential assessment indicate
that (1) industrial and mining impoundments tend to be located on low
ground near streams where alluvial sand and gravel is present in the
subsurface, and where ground water beneath the impoundments is estimated
to be moving toward the stream with no intervening water wells, (2) a
very high proportion of oil and gas impoundments are located far from
large streams and on glacial till or fine grained sedimentary bedrock
where water table aquifers and shallow bedrock aquifers are not present,
(3) a large proportion of impoundments in all categories other than oil
and gas tend to be located on alluvium near streams or on gravel covering
the surfaces of stream-cut terraces along the major river valleys, (4)
most of the impoundments are associated with water that is a current
drinking water source, and (5) most of the wastewater that is put into
the impoundments is associated with low to medium health hazard potential.
To date, it appears that surface wastewater impoundments have had
minimal impact on the quality of ground water in the State of Montana.
However, more instances of ground water pollution might occur in the
future as more impoundments are constructed, more water wells are con-
structed near impoundments, and plumes of contaminated water have had
more time to spread. Consequently, it appears to be appropriate that
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State law requires standards and regulations to be developed for the
protection of ground water quality. Such standards and regulations have
been completed in draft form and the State expects to finalize them in
the near future. Furthermore, some regulation of wastewater impoundment
construction exists in various permit programs. The future impacts of
surface wastewater impoundments should be minimal because (1) it is the
State's policy to protect ground water, (2) State laws require that ground
water be protected, and (3) to date, the impact of impoundments on ground
water has been minimal.
The State supports a national policy of protecting ground water
resources. However, because of local differences from state to state,
it would seem best to allow each state to develop its own ground water
protection regulations and monitoring and enforcement programs. The
EPA could provide valuable technical assistance in the form of advice and
training and possibly some financial assistance to the states. The re-
gional offices could provide closer communication and liaison between
the states in the region, and possibly better or more efficient solutions
could be found to ground water problems common to the states. Organized
seminars or workshops in the region on handling ground water problems
would probably prove worthwhile. Continued research on the mobility of
various constituents of wastewater in the subsurface would probably produce
information that would be helpful in regulating the construction of surface
wastewater impoundments.
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CHAPTER 2
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
The results of investigations of claims that ground water has been
polluted by seepage from surface wastewater impoundments suggest that
the present incidence of ground water pollution by impoundments may be
about 0.3 percent. Since the one substantiated case of pollution in-
volves color and another suspected case probably involves dissolved iron,
it appears that surface wastewater impoundments in general have had a
minimal effect on ground water and on drinking water supplies. However,
about 68 percent of the impoundments are no more than 10 years old.
Consequently, the full long-term impact of the impoundments may be greater
than is suggested by casual inspection of this data„ Some action should
be taken to protect ground water supplies from the effects of seepage from
impoundments for the following reasons: (1) pollution has occurred in
one or more instances, (2) where pollution does occur, insufficient data
is likely to be available to substantiate the pollution or its cause,
and (3) where pollution occurs, a very long period of time may be required
for recovery of the quality of the ground water after the source is re-
moved. The best action would seem to be the implementation of a permit
program that would allow the State to review any hazards associated with
proposed impoundments. However, since the hazard associated with impound-
ments is generally small, extremely burdensome application procedures do
not seem to be justified for most impoundments. The State has completed
a draft of ground water quality regulations that seems to provide adequate
protection of drinking water supplies and State water. These regulations
should be finalized in the near future.
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Once the ground water quality regulations have been promulgated,
the remaining need of the State would be more information on the mobil
of various constituents of wastewater in natural ground water systems
encountered in the State. The most economical way to gain additional
information needed on such mobilities might be research conducted by
federal agencies. Seminars and workshops on predicting the effects of
surface water impoundments in various geologic and hydrologic environ-
ments would probably prove worthwhile.
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CHAPTER 3
MONTANA SI A OVERVIEW AND METHODOLOGY
PURPOSE OF MONTANA PARTICIPATION
The State of Montana participated in the Surface Impoundments
Assessment Program to obtain an approximate assessment of the hazard
to public health and the hazard to State waters caused by the disposal
of wastewater in surface impoundments. It is the State's policy "to
conserve water by protecting, maintaining and improving the quality and
potability of water for public water supplies, wildlife, fish and aquatic
life, agriculture, industry, recreation and other beneficial uses; and
to provide a comprehensive program for the prevention, abatement and
control of water pollution" (MCA 75-5-101). The current attitude of
the State as expressed in its laws and regulations is that ground water
is State water and it is unlawful to pollute State waters. Current
regulation of wastewater impoundment construction is diffused through
various permit programs that will be discussed in Chapter 8. These
programs do not necessarily provide adequate or uniformly effective pro-
tection of public health and State waters. Any person may initiate State
action if he thinks ground water is being polluted by a wastewater im-
poundment, because MCA 75-5-636 requires the Department of Health and
Environmental Sciences to make an investigation and write a report to
the protestor. Furthermore, if State water has been polluted, the
Department must take appropriate action.
PERSONNEL
The principal individuals that have worked on the Montana SIA Project
are Federick Shewman, Darrel Dunn, and Kirk Mills. Frederick Shewman is
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the Montana Water Quality Bureau representative who supervised the
project and helped with the work. Most of the work was performed by
Darrel Dunn, consulting hydrogeologist, Earth Science Services, Inc.
Earth Science Services was contracted by the Montana Department of
Health and Environmental Sciences to perform the surface impoundment
assessment. Kirk Mills worked on the project during the summer of
1978. He was a graduate student from the Department of Civil Engi-
neering and Engineering Mechanics, Montana State University, Bozeman.
His job was to determine the location of oil and gas impoundments and
to record the appropriate information on the forms titled Location and
Count of Impoundments. Details of the technical background of Frederick
Shewman and Darrel Dunn are in the Appendix.
METHOD OF LOCATING IMPOUNDMENTS
Impoundments were located in the following ways:
1. Files on discharge permits issued under the Montana
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System rule (MPDES)
were searched for information on impoundments associated
with permitted discharges.
2. Files containing correspondence about discharges to sur-
face water that have been eliminated were searched for
information on impoundments associated with the eliminated
di scharges.
3. Files pertaining to permits to operate animal confinement
facilities were searched for information on associated
impoundments.
4. Reports on inspections of municipal sewage disposal systems
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were searched, and files pertaining to municipal sewage
disposal were searched.
5. County Sanitarians throughout the State of Montana were
asked to send lists of wastewater impoundments in their
counties.
6. The Montana Solid Waste Bureau supplied an industrial
waste survey summary that contained information on waste-
water ponds used by businesses in the State.
7. The Montana Department of State Lands, which issues mining
permits, was asked to supply information on mining impound-
ments .
8. The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology was also asked to
supply information on mining impoundments.
9. The December, 1977 issue of Petroleum Information contained
a summary of water produced by oil and gas wells in Montana
for 1977. This publication indicated the owners of wells
that produced water. These owners were contacted to obtain
information on the location of wastewater impoundments
associated with oil and gas production.
10. The U. S. Geological Survey file on impoundments that are
on federal or tribal oil and gas leases was examined.
11. Miscellaneous reports that might contain information on
wastewater impoundments were examined.
12. After a list of impoundment sites was compiled, various
individuals in the Montana Department of Health and
Environmental Sciences, the Montana Department of State
Lands, the Montana Fish and Game Department, and directors
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of Montana areawide planning organizations were asked to
review the list and submit information on any sites missed.
13. During the assessment of pollution potential of the impound-
ments, selected impoundments were inspected by making low-
level flights. Much of the inhabited parts of the state of
Montana were observed from the air during these flights.
This afforded an opportunity to find additional impoundments
and to check the completeness of the list of impoundments
located.
No major problems were experienced in locating wastewater impoundments
in Montana. However, a number of minor problems were encountered. The
problems and the solutions effected were as follows:
1. The quality of the information obtained was quite variable.
Precise locations of impoundment sites were not always
available from the sources used, and random field inspections
showed that information on the number of impoundments at
a site was not always accurate. Some owners' names and
addresses have changed since they were listed in the sources
of the information, and owners' addresses were not even
given in some sources. Since only a limited amount of time
was available for completing each location form, only a
small amount of effort was expended in trying to obtain
better locations and addresses. However, the locations
given are probably within \ mile of the true location for
nearly all sites; and most locations are accurate to the
quarter-section. The locations are provided as the state
identification number on the location forms. Although the
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owners' names and addresses are not always accurate,
whenever the addresses given were used to correspond with
an owner, the letter did reach the owner. The locations,
of course, are accurate for the impoundments that were
inspected in the field during the assessment of ground
water contamination potential described below.
2. The distinction between mining and industrial impoundments
seems vague. Some processes, such as the production of
copper, begin as a mining operation and end as an operation
which would normally be considered industrial. In general,
impoundments located at a mine site and associated with
the extraction of rock and minerals from the ground were
considered to be mining impoundments; and impoundments
at the mine site associated with initial separation of
minerals from rocks were also included under mining impound-
ments. However, impoundments associated with smelters and
other operations which may or may not be conducted at the
mine site were generally considered to be industrial.
3. There was some uncertainty regarding whether settling ponds
associated with sand and gravel operations should be con-
sidered wastewater impoundments. However, since sand and
gravel operations have been assigned a hazard potential
rating (Silka and Swearingen, 1978, p. 40), sand and gravel
impoundments were included in the SI A. However, no special
effort was made to locate all sand and gravel impoundments
in the state of Montana.
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4. Some difficulty was experienced in deciding which ponds
associated with trout rearing operations should be classi-
fied as wastewater ponds. In general, ponds used primarily
for growing trout were not included, but ponds that seemed
to be primarily for treating water from trout ponds before
discharging it into streams were considered to be wastewater
ponds.
5. Concrete pits beneath the floors of animal confinement
buildings were excluded from the inventory after consul-
tation with the EPA.
6. Small concrete lined pits located inside of buildings in
industrial operations were also excluded.
7. Oil and gas impoundments observed during flights in Glacier
and Toole Counties were so numerous that it seems possible
that more oil and gas impoundments are present than were
located by the method described above. However, a more
precise count of these ponds would be very difficult and
expensive and is beyond the scope of the present investigation.
8. Many tailings ponds have been associated with mines that
have been abandoned for decades. These ponds are now
breached and do not contain water. There was some uncer-
tainty as to whether to include these breached ponds in the
assessment and the decision was to not include them.
9. The status of sludge drying beds associated with municipal
sewage disposal facilities was also a problem. The decision
was to include sludge disposal ponds if they were thought
to contain liquid material most of the time and if they were
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not constructed of concrete. Easily available information
on some of the sludge disposal facilities was not very
complete; therefore, some sludge disposal facilities may
have been erroneously classified.
10. Some ponds were observed during flights which could not be
positively identified as wastewater ponds. Some ponds, of
course, are water supply ponds or process water ponds.
Ponds observed during flights were not included in the SIA
unless they were positively identified as wastewater ponds.
This identification was usually made by contacting County
Sanitarians.
METHOD OF ASSESSING GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION POTENTIAL
After the location and count of wastewater ponds was completed, a
random number table was used to select a sample from each of the five
impoundment catagories for assessment of ground water contamination poten-
tial. The number of ponds selected in each catagory is shown in Table 1.
The sample obtained was probably quite representative of the attributes
of the wastewater ponds in Montana. Information on the selected ponds
was collected from the files of the Water Quality Bureau, which included
the files mentioned above in connection with the location and count of
ponds. After this information was collected, the additional information
needed to fill out the assessment forms was gathered by (1) reviewing
available geologic and hydrologic reports, (2) inspecting the ponds from
low-flying aircraft, (3) contacting the owners of the ponds and (4) con-
tacting County Sanitarians and other individuals who might have additional
information. During the flights, color and black and white photographs
were taken of the ponds and their surroundings; and observations were
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tape recorded. The observations included the size of the ponds, number
of ponds at each site, distance to surface water bodies, probable dis-
tances and directions to water wells, elevation above water levels in
adjacent surface water bodies, geology, topography, and other pertinent
factors.
Low-altitude fly-overs were recommended in SIA Technical Guidence
No. 1. Such fly-overs were used in this project because data from avail-
able reports, maps, and other sources is often inadequate in Montana.
Many of the available topographic maps predate the construction of impound-
ments or the impoundments present at the time of the mapping are not shown.
Furthermore, large areas of Montana are not yet covered by large scale
topographic maps. Available air photos often predate construction of
impoundments. The exact location of most impoundments is not known, and
distances to streams and water wells are generally not known. Consequently,
the rating of potential endangerment to water supplies (step 6 of the
evaluation system) would be nearly worthless without a fly-over. The
fly-overs also provided for gathering data that was not available from
other sources, and improved the quality of our work without significantly
reducing the number of impoundments assessed. Eliminating the fly-overs
would have added only about 42 impoundments to the number assessed. This
addition would have increased the percentage of the impoundments assessed
from 41 percent to 52 percent., The advantages of the fly-overs exceeded
the value of assessing an additional 42 impoundments.
No major problems were encountered during the assessment phase of the
project. A few of the minor problems encountered were as follows:
1. A few impoundments mentioned in the files of the Water
Quality Bureau were found to be non-existant. Persons
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had obtained permits and submitted plans for facilities with
impoundments but had not proceeded to build the facilities.
In the few instances where this occurred, a substitute
impoundment was selected by using the random number table.
It was possible to alter travel plans to visit all but two
of these alternate impoundments. Those two were oil and
gas ponds located in an area where it was possible to make
a fairly good assessment without visiting the sites.
2. A few impoundment owners did not respond, or responded
incompletely, to requests for information on their impound-
ments. Consequently, some spaces on the assessment form had
to be left blank and some of the data entered on the forms
may be in error. A good example of information that may
be in error is information pertaining to liners. Since
most of the older municipal ponds do not seem to have been
lined, in the absence of information to the contary, it was
generally assumed that a municipal pond was unlined.
COORDINATION WITH RCRA INVENTORY
The RCRA Inventory will be performed by the Montana Solid Waste
Bureau. Copies of the present report will be furnished to that Bureau
along with any additional information they might want. This project has
been discussed with the Solid Waste Bureau, which has furnished some of
the information used.. Consequently, the Solid Waste Bureau is cognizant
of the information available and has access to it.
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CHAPTER 4
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
SUMMARY OF LOCATION OF WASTEWATER IMPOUNDMENTS
The number of sites with wastewater impoundments and the number
of individual impoundments that were found during this investigation
are shown in Table 1. Each cell of a wastewater impoundment system was
counted as a separate impoundment. The number of sites shown in Table 1
is probably about 90% of the actual total number of sites in the State
in the agricultural, industrial, mining, and municipal categories. The
number of sites shown for oil and gas impoundments is probably about
75% of the total number of oil and gas impoundments in the State. These
percentages are based on the number of impoundments discovered during
the flights conducted as part of the procedure for assessing ground water
contamination potential. During the course of the flights, all of the
major population centers of Montana were visited and much land surface
was observed while flying between impoundments to be assessed. These
percentages are not quantitatively derived; instead, they are non-quanti-
tative estimates.
The located impoundments are distributed throughout the State.
Table 2 shows the distribution of impoundments sites by county and by im-
poundment category. Agricultural sites are widely scattered. Yellowstone
County has the most (10); they are primarily cattle feedlots in the
Billings area. The greatest number of industrial impoundment sites was
located in Yellowstone County and Flathead County; each had nine. All nine
of the industrial impoundment sites located in Yellowstone County were in
the Billings-Laurel area, which is a center of industry related to oil
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TABLE 1. Number of impoundments located and assessed.
Impoundment Category
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
Number of sites located.
81
65
31
231
268
676
Number of impoundments located.
121
240
100
473
335
1269
Number of impoundments assessed.
14
43
14
33
50
154
TABLE 2. Location of impoundment sites by county
^ode
County
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
1
Beaverhead
3
2
2
1
2
8
2
3
Big Horn
2
1
3
1
6
1
7
1
18
4
5
B1aine
2
1
5
1
9
7
Broadwater
1
1
1
2
1
9
Carbon
2
1
7
1
9
3
19
4
11
Carter
1
1
13
Cascade
4
1
4
3
2
2
10
1
20
7
15
Choteau
1
5
6
17
Custer
1
1
5
1
6
2
19
Daniels
2
2
4
21
Dawson
1
1
1
3
1
6
1
23
Deer Lodge
1
3
4
25
FalIon
1
2
11
1
14
1
27
Fergus
2
1
1
1
1
11
2
15
4
29
F1athead
1
9
7
1
1
3
1
14
9
31
Gal 1atin
3
3
12
1
18
1
33
Garfield
2
1
1
1
4
1
35
G1aci er
1
, 1
7
1
27
10
35
12
37
Golden Valley
2
3
1
5
1
39
Grani te
2
2
41
Hill
1
1
1
6
1
9
1
43
Jefferson
2
2
2
5
2
9
4
45
Judith Basin
1
1
4
5
1
47
Lake
5
1
7
1
12
2
49
Lewis & Clark
3
1
1
1
12
1
17
2
51
Liberty
2
5
7
53
Li ncoln
2
1
2
2
2
6
3
55
McCone
1
4
5
57
Madi son
1
4
2
8
1
13
3
59
Meagher
1
1
61
Mi neral
1
1
1
1
2
1
4
3
63
Mi ssoula
6
3
1
7
1
14
4
(1)
Number located.
(2) Number assessed,
-------
18
TABLE 2. Location of impoundment sites by county (continued).
Code
County
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
0AG
Total
(1)
(2)
(1) (2)
(1) (2)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2
65
Musselshel1
2
1
2
19
6
24
6
67
Park
2 1
1
2
5
1
69
Petroleum
1
3
1
4
1
71
Phillips
2
1
1 1
1
4
1
10
4
18
7
73
Pondera
3
1
7
1
13
1
23
3
75
Powder River
2
2
21
3
23
5
77
Powel1
1
1
2
4
79
Prai ri e
1
2
2
3
2
81
Ravalli
1
1
1 1
1
3
6
2
83
Ri chland
6
2
3 3
2
5
2
3
1
19
8
85
Roosevelt
2
2 2
6
6
2
16
4
87
Rosebud
1 1
2 1
5
2
15
1
23
5
89
Sanders
1
1
2
4
91
Sheri dan
3
3
6
93
Silver Bow
5 1
2 1
2
9
2
95
Sti1Iwater
4
3
1
1
8
1
97
Sweetgrass
1
1
2
99
Teton
2
1 1
7
1
12
1
22
3
101
Toole
4
2
5
91
15
100
17
103
Treasure
1
1
105
Valley
1
7
1
8
1
107
Wheatland
1 1
3
1
4
2
109
Wibaux
1
1
2
111
Yellowstone
10
3
9 7
8
1
3
30
11
-------
19
refining and meat processing. Much of the industry in Flathead County
is related to wood products, and the 9 sites are widely distributed
throughout the county. The greatest number of mining sites are located
in Madison County, which has 4. The mining sites are widely dispersed and
no more than 2 sites were associated with any one place in the State.
Butte, Colstrip, and Decker are associated with 2 sites each. Two gravel
pits are also associated with Vaughn, which is located a short distance
west of Great Falls. The greatest number of municipal sites were found
in Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, Fergus, and Cascade Counties. Each of
these four counties contained 10 or more sites. Gallatin, Lewis and Clark,
and Cascade Counties are relatively highly populated counties with numer-
ous residential subdivisions. Fergus County is a large county with several
small towns that have pond systems. The place associated with the greatest
number of municipal impoundment sites is Missoula, which is associated
with 6. The oil and gas impoundments were found to be concentrated in a
relatively small number of counties. The greatest number were located
in Toole County, with 91 sites associated with the Kevin-Sunburst Oil
Field. Glacier County had 27 sites, which were associated with the Cut
Bank Field. Flying over these two counties, one gets the impression
that they may contain considerably more than these 118 sites. The place
called Ferdig, in the Kevin-Sunburst Field, was associated with 41 oil and
gas impoundment sites. All places associated with more than one site per
category are listed in Table 3.
Some impoundment sites contain a large number of individual impoundments.
For example, the Hoerner Waldorf plant near Missoula has about 34 impoundments,
and the pond system associated with the Anaconda Company plant at Anaconda
contains about 21 impoundments. The mining site with the most impoundments
-------
20
TABLE 3. List of places associated with more than one
impoundment site.
Agricultural
Place
PI ace
Number
Place
PI ace
Number
Code
Name
of Sites
Code
Name
of Sites
6550
Bi11 ings
3
56575
Park City
4
13900
Charlo
3
67450
Shelby
3
18775
Cut Bank
2
67900
Sidney
4
38200
Huntly
2
76675
Vaughn
2
47500
Manchester
2
Industrial
PI ace
PI ace
Number
PI ace
Place
Number
Code
Name
of Sites
Code
Name
of Sites
6550
Bi11ings
7
42700
Laurel
2
11275
Butte
4
50200
Missoula
3
16600
Columbia Falls
2
67900
Si dney
3
32800
Great Falls
3
81475
Wolf Point
2
40075
Kalispel1
2
Mining
PI ace
Pi ace
Number
PI ace
PI ace
Number
Code
Name
of Sites
Code
Name
of Sites
11275
Butte
2
19750
Decker
2
16525
Colstri p
2
76675
Vaughn
2
Munici pal
Place
PI ace
Number
PI ace
PI ace
Number
Code
Name
of Sites
Code
Name
of Si tes
2800
Ashland
2
20425
Denton
2
3025
Augusta
3
23125
East Helena
2
6550
Billings
3
24475
Ennis
3
8575
Boulder
2
28675
Ft. Smith Village
2
8725
Box Elder
2
29800
Gal en
2
8950
Bozeman
4
31075
G1asgow
2
9250
Brady
3
31450
G1endive
2
10375
Browning
3
32500
Grassrange
2
14650
Choteau
2
32800
Great Falls
2
17275
Conrad
2
34450
Harlowton
2
19825
Deer Lodge
2
35275
Hays
2
-------
Place
Code
42250
43375
47500
49525
50425
65275
Place
Code
550
3475
4900
5125
5650
8650
9250
13000
17275
18700
18775
22600
25300
25750
26725
28675
29725
TABLE 3. List of places associated with more than one
impoundment site (continued).
Municipal (continued)
Place
Name
Lame Deer
Lewistown
Manchester
Miles City
Missoula West
St. Ignatius
Number
of Sites
2
2
2
4
6
2
Place Place
Code Name
67900 Sidney
75475 Twin Bridges
76225 Valier
76675 Vaughn
79525 West Yellowstone
79825 Whitefish
Oil and Gas
Place Number
Name of Sites
Agawam 8
Baker 5
Belfry 5
Belle Creek 11
Biddle 10
Bowdoin 9
Brady 3
Cat Creek 3
Conrad 4
Custer 2
Cut Bank 11
Dutton 4
Fairview 2
Ferdig 41
Flatwillow 4
Ft. Smith Village 4
Galata 3
PI ace
Code
40525
46075
49000
52600
55150
55375
58975
61525
64525
66250
67450
71875
73000
73075
76225
76975
Pi ace
Name
Kevin
Lustre
Mel stone
Musselshell
Oilmont
01 lie
Poplar
Red Lodge
Roundup
Santa Rita
Shelby
Sumatra
Sweetgrass
Sweet Grass
Valier
Vida
-------
22
is one at Cardwell which is thought to be a cyanide leaching system used
for the recovery of gold by Placer-Amex; the Western Energy mining oper-
ation near Colstrip appears to have about 10 impoundments. In the municipal
category, the largest number of impoundments at a site is the 10 sludge
drying beds at the Helena sewage plant. Other municipalities have as
many as 6 impoundments in their sewage sytems. One cattle feeding oper-
ation near Park City is listed as having 7 impoundments, and a couple of
oil and gas leases located in Glacier and Toole Counties have 6 impoundments
each. Some of these numbers of impoundments per site may be incorrect,
because the available information on the pond systems is not necessarily
accurate. Furthermore, even when the pond systems are viewed from the
air, it is sometimes difficult to decide how much separation should exist
between cells before they are called separate impoundments.
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL FEATURES OF IMPOUNDMENTS
Inspection of the distribution of the assessed impoundments compared
to the distribution of all impoundments by county (Table 2) suggests that
the random sample of impoundments which were assessed is representative
of the impoundments in the State. Consequently, analysis of this random
sample should provide a fairly good estimate of the attributes of the
impoundments in the State„ The purposes of the impoundments assessed are
summarized in Table 4. The majority of the agricultural impoundments
are for waste storage. Most of the industrial impoundments are for waste-
water disposal or treatment. The majority of the mining and municipal
impoundments are for treatment; and most of the oil and gas impoundments
are for wastewater disposal.
The ages of the assessed impoundments are shown in Table 5. Most
are less than 10 years old. The data on impoundment ages does not suggest
-------
TABLE 4. Purpose of assessed impoundments.
23
Purpose
Waste Storage
Waste Disposal
Waste Treatment
Other
AGR IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
9 1
1
11
4 20
3
10
47
84
20
8
22
3
53
1 1
2
4
TABLE 5. Age of assessed impoundments.
Years
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
1
2
2
1
1
6
2
1
1
3
2
1
1
5
9
4
2
1
3
5
1
3
2
2
8
6
3
3
2
1
9
7
1
1
3
5
8
1
1
9
1
1
2
4
10
2
1
1
4
11
1
2
2
5
12
1
1
13
14
15
1
1
1
3
16
1
1
17
2
2
18
19
2
2
20
21
1
1
2
22
1
1
23
24
2
2
25
1
1
2
26
27
28
29
1
1
30
1
1
31
32
1
1
-------
24
any acceleration of growth of the number of impoundments in the state
within the last 10 years. Table 6 shows that most of the assessed impound-
ments were in use at the time of the assessment. However, no special
effort was made to locate abandoned impoundments; so the data is probably
somewhat biased in favor of impoundments that are in use.
The size (surface areas) of all impoundments at assessed sites are
summarized in Table 7. The total surface area of impoundments at indi-
vidual sites range from less than 0.01 acre to about 700 acres. The
largest impoundments are associated with mining and industrial operations
and the smallest are associated with oil and gas production and agricul-
tural activities.
The average daily rate of flow of wastewater into all impoundments
at the assessed sites is summarized in Table 8. These rates range from
3 gallons per day to about 24 million gallons per day. A crude estimate
of the total amount of wastwater that flows into ponds in the State was
made by multiplying the average influent rate per site for each category
by the estimated total number of sites in that category. The results are
shown in Table 9. These results may be somewhat biased in the direction
of over-estimation, because small pond systems were more likely to be
missed during the location phase of the investigation than large pond
systems. The estimated 413 million gallons per day for mining impoundments
is the largest of any category; and the estimated 100,000 gallons per day
for agricultural impoundments is the smallest of any category. The total
estimated daily inflow to all impoundments in the State is 744.9 million
gallons per day, or about 2286 acre-feet per year.
The types of bottom liners recorded for the assessed impoundments
are shown in Table 10. Only 6 of the 154 impoundments assessed are known
-------
25
TABLE 6. Number of assessed impoundments in use.
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
In Use 14
40
11
32
44
141
Not in Use
3
2
1
6
12
Unknown
1
1
TABLE 7. Size of all assessed impoundments at sites.
Surface area, acres
Size
Minimum
Maximum
Average
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
All
0.01
3.94
0.81
0.02
700.00
24.21
0.25
600.00
58.98
0.10
111.00
14.66
0.01
20.00
0.54
0.01
700.00
TABLE 8. Average daily influent to all impoundments at assessed sites.
Influent, gallons per day
Size AGR IND MNG MUN OAG All
Minimum 550 120 540,000 15,000 3 3
Maximum 1734 1.6xl07 2.4xl07 3xl06 102,900 2.4xl07
Average 1142 2.8xl06 1.2xl07 490,375 10,708
TABLE 9. Estimated average daily influent
to all impoundments in Montana.
Million gallons per day
AGR IND MNG MUN OAG Total
0.1 202 413 126 3.8 744.9
Acre-feet per year
AGR IND MNG MUN OAG Total
0.31 620 1267 387 11„7 2286.01
-------
26
TABLE 10. Types of bottom liners in assessed impoundments.
Type AGR IND MNG MUN OAG Total
Clay 11
Bentonite modified 1 1
Concrete 1 1
Asphalt 2 2
Chlorinated Polyethylene 1 1
TABLE 11. Number of assessed sites with monitoring wells.
AGR IND MNG MUN OAG Total
0 2 110 4
TABLE 12. Number of assessed impoundments reported to have
affected drinking water wells.
AGR IND MNG MUN OAG Total
Yes 1 1
No 5 21 26
Unknown 14 35 11 12 26 98
Not Applicable 2 3 24 29
-------
27
to be lined. However, some liners may not have been reported and the
total number may be greater than 6.
Only 4 of the 154 sites assessed contained ground water monitoring
wells (Table 11). Only one of these mini toring well systems is known
to have detected any ground water contamination. This contamination was
color, which was detected in ground water at the Hoerner Waldorf plant
near Missoula (Grimestad, 1977). Some sites that were not assessed con-
tain monitoring wells, and these will be discussed below.
Table 12 shows that only one of the assessed sites is associated
with a report of contamination of drinking water supplies obtained from
wells. This site is the Great Western Sugar Company at Billings. This
case is discussed below along with ground water contamination cases re-
lated to impoundments that were not assessed.
SUMMARY OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION POTENTIAL OF IMPOUNDMENTS
The rating of ground water contamination potential of impoundments
was conducted in accordance with guidance provided by the U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency during a training session in July, 1978. This guidance
is summarized in a manual written by Silka and Swearingen (1978). Tables
used in the rating method are reproduced in Appedix I of the present
report. The rating system involves estimating numerical hazard ratings
associated with (1) the unsaturated zone beneath the impoundments, (2) the
ground water availability in the vicinity of the impoundments, (3) the
ground water quality in the vicinity of the impoundments, and (4) the
hazard potential of the wastewater. These four numerical values were
added to obtain a fifth value which was a rating of the ground water
contamination potential. See the manual referenced above for more details.
-------
28
The results of rating the hazard associated with the characteristics
of the unsturated zone beneath the impoundments are shown in Tables 13
through 18. Noteworthy findings are as follows:
1. A relatively large number of all the impoundments assessed
fall in the most hazardous element of the matrix, which is
labeled 9E. This element of the matrix corresponds to a
thickness of the "unsaturated zone" of no more than 1 meter
and an earth material category of I. Earth material category
I corresponds to medium to coarse sand and gravel in all
cases in Montana. Forty-nine percent of the industrial
impoundments and forty-three percent of the mining impound-
ments were in element 9E0 Industrial and mining impoundments
tend to be on low ground near streams where alluvial sand
and gravel is present in the subsurface. The step 6 rating
matrices (discussed below) show that in most cases the ground
water beneath the impoundments is estimated to be moving
toward the stream with no intervening water wells.
2. A very high proportion of the oil and gas impoundments were
associated with earth material category V, which is clay
with less than 50% sand, or it is siltstone. These impound-
ments tend to be located away from large streams and on
glacial till or fine-grained sedimentary bedrock. Since
water table aquifers are not present and shallow bedrock
aquifers are not present, the thickness of the "unsaturated
zone" is generally greater than 30 meters.
3. A large proportion of impoundments in all categories other
than oil and gas are associated with earth material category I.
-------
29
TABLE 13. Number of assessed impoundments associated with each element
in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1).
Thickness,
meters
I
Ear
II
¦th Mat
III
,eri al
IV
Categc
V
ry
VI
All
>30
1
2
8
45
4
60
>103^10
10
1
2
5
1
19
>1<3
12
2
2
1
17
>0<1
36
3
3
4
1
47
>0
59
8
9
13
59
6
154
TABLE 14. Number of assessed agricultural impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1).
Thi ckness,
meters
I
Ear
II
-th Mat
III
.eri al
IV
Categc
V
iry
VI
All
>30
1
4
1
6
>10<30
1
1
>3<10
1
1
2
>1<3
2
2
>0<1
2
1
3
>0
6
2
5
1
14
-------
TABLE 15. Number of assessed industrial impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1).
Thi ckness,
meters
I
Eart
II
:h Mate
III
'rial C
IV
ategor
V
7
VI
All
>30
1
1
4
6
>10<30
>3 <10
4
1
2
1
8
>1<3
2
2
4
>011
21
2
1
1
25
>0
27
2
5
2
6
1
43
TABLE 16. Number of assessed mining impoundments associated with each
element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1).
Thi ckness,
meters
I
Eart
n
h Mate
III
rial C
IV
ategor
V
y
VI
All
>30
1
1
>10530
1
2
3
>3<20
1
1
2
CO
VI
1—1
A
1
1
2
>0<1
6
6
>0
8
4
2
14
-------
TABLE 17. Number of assessed municipal impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1)
Thi ckness,
meters
I
Eart
II
h Mate
III
'rial C
IV
ategor
V
•y
VI
All
>30
1
2
3
6
>10<30
1
2
1
4
> 3< 10
4
4
>1<3
5
1
1
7
>0<1
7
1
1
2
1
12
>0
16
2
1
4
6
4
33
TABLE 18. Number of assessed oil and gas impoundments associated with
each element in the unsaturated zone rating matrix (step 1)
Thi ckness,
meters
I
Eart
II
h Mate
III
»rial C
IV
ategor
V
y
VI
All
>30
6
35
41
>10<30
3
3
>3<10
1
2
3
>1<3
2
2
>0<1
1
1
>0
2
1
7
40
50
-------
32
They tend to be located on alluvium near streams or on
gravel covering the surfaces of stream-cut terraces along
the major river valleys.
The results of rating the hazard associated with ground water avail-
ability are summarized in Tables 19 through 24. A large proportion of
the impoundments are associated with relatively thick, permeable sand
and gravel aquifers (elements 5A and 6A). This is true for all categories
of impoundments except oil and gas impoundments, which tend to be associated
with thin aquifers, primarily moderately cemented sandstone bedrock aquifers.
Table 25 shows that most of the assessed impoundments are associated
with a ground water quality rating of 5, which is the highest rating. In
most cases the 5-rating was selected because the aquifer associated with
the impoundment was a current drinking water source. In many cases,
especially those associated with oil and gas impoundments, the quality
of this drinking water is relatively poor. It has a high concentration of
dissolved solids, but it is the best source of water available.
Table 26 shows that most of the wastewater that is put into the assessed
impoundments is associated with a hazard potential of 2 to 5 (on a scale of
1 to 9). The highest rating assigned to any impoundment was 8. This
value was assigned to 5 industrial impoundments and 2 mining impoundments.
All of the oil and gas impoundments were assigned a wastwater hazard poten-
tial rating of 7 because this is the number the rating table assigns to
the extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas. Although waste water
associated with oil and gas extraction is given a high hazard rating, oil
and gas impoundments tend to have a low ground water contamination potential
rating (step 5) because the scores for step 1 and step 2 are generally low.
-------
33
TABLE 19. Number of assessed impoundments associated with each element
in the ground water availability matrix (step 2).
Thickness,
meters
Ear
I
th Materi
II
al Catego
III
ry
All
>30
31
14
1
46
3-30
45
21
2
68
<3
8
32
40
>0
84
67
3
154
TABLE 20. Number of assessed agricultural impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2).
Th ickness,
meters
Earl
I
th Materi
II
al Categor
III
y
All
230
3
2
5
3-30
6
6
<3
3
3
>0
9
5
14
-------
34
TABLE 21. Number of assessed industrial impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2).
Thickness,
meters
Ea
I
rth Mater
II
ial Categ
III
ory
All
>30
17
1
18
3-30
18
6
24
<3
1
1
>0
36
7
43
TABLE 22. Number of assessed mining impoundments associated with each
element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2).
Thi ckness,
meters
Ea
I
rth Mater
II
ial Categt
III
Dry
All
>30
5
5
3-30
6
3
9
<3
>0
11
3
14
-------
35
TABLE 23. Number of assessed municipal impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2).
Thickness,
meters
Ea
I
rth Mater
II
ial Categ
III
Dry
All
>30
6
1
1
8
3-30
14
6
1
21
<3
2
2
4
>0
22
9
2
33
TABLE 24. Number of assessed oil and gas impoundments associated with
each element in the ground water availability matrix (step 2).
Thi ckness,
meters
Ea
I
rth Mater
II
•ial Categ
III
o
<<
>30
10
10
3-30
1
6
1
8
<3
5
27
32
>0
6
43
1
50
-------
TABLE 25. Number of assessed impoundments associated with each ground
water quality rating (.step 3).
Impoundment Category
Rating
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
5
12
40
14
24
42
132
4
2
2
1
5
3
2
1
7
7
17
TABLE 26. Number of assessed impoundments associated with each hazard
potential rating of waste (step 4).
Rating
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
8
5
2
7
7
1
3
50
54
6
1
2
3
5
9
5
1
15
4
1
5
1
1
8
3
3
14
10
27
2
10
9
21
40
-------
The ground water contamination potential ratings (step 5) are
summarized in Table 27; the ratings ranged from 8 to 28. As mentioned
previously, this rating for each impoundment is the sum of the impound-
ment's ratings for steps 1 through 4. The highest average ratings are
associated with industrial and mining impoundments (21.8 and 21.14,
respectively). These high average ratings are probably primarily due
to the association of these categories of impoundments with high water
table conditions in alluvial sand and gravel aquifers near streams. The
lowest average score is associated with oil and gas impoundments (14.86)
This association is probably due to the association with relatively deep
poor aquifers in the oil and gas producing areas.
Standard partial regression coefficients (Davis, 1973, p. 421) of
the regression of step 1 through step 4 rating scores on step 5 scores
are shown in Table 28. The values of these coefficients indicate that
step 1 scores (rating of the unsaturated zone) are the most effective
scores influencing variation in the values of step 5 scores. Step 3
scores (ground water quality rating) have little effect on the variation
of step 5 scores because most of the step 3 scores are the same value
(5). Step 4 scores (wastewater hazard) have very little effect on the
step 5 scores of municipal, oil and gas, andagricul tural impoundments;
because the hazard associated with wastewater is uniform within each of
these categories.
SUMMARY OF RATING OF POTENTIAL ENDANGERMENT TO WATER SUPPLY
The results of rating the endangerment to water supplies (step 6)
are shown in Tables 29 through 34. The results in these tables show
that a stream is the nearest water supply in the anticipated direction
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38
TABLE 27. Summary of ground water contamination potential
scores (step 5).
Impoundment Category
Score
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
Total
8-10
1
5
6
11-13
3
3
2
4
26
38
14-16
2
3
1
14
20
17-19
1
4
7
6
18
20-22
1
17
6
13
2
39
23-25
6
13
5
3
1
28
26-28
3
1
1
5
TABLE 28. Standard partial regression coefficients of
step 1 through step 4 rating scores on step 5 scores
in rating ground water contamination potential.
AGR
IND
MNG
MUN
OAG
All
Step 1
3.33
2.78
1.72
3.14
1.77
3.60
Step 2
0.56
0.28
0.51
0.55
0.59
0.72
Step 3
0.09
0.03
0.00
0.15
0.17
0.08
Step 4
0.22
1.04
1.18
0.14
0.00
1.00
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39
TABLE 29. Number of assessed impoundments associated with each
element of the health hazard matrix (step 6).
Distance, meters
Case A
Case B
Case C
Case D
<200
10
70
3
>200 ,<400
3
12
1
>400 ,<800
6
11
1
>800 ,<1600
12
9
4
>1600
12
>0
31
102
9
12
TABLE 30. Number of assessed agricultural impoundments associated with
each element of the health hazard matrix (step 6).
Distance, meters
Case A
Case B
Case C
Case D
<200
2
6
>200,<400
2
1
>400 ,<800
1
>800 ,<1600
2
>1600
>0
7
7
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40
TABLE 31. Number of assessed industrial impoundments associated with
each element of the health hazard matrix (step 6).
Distance, meters
Case A
Case B
Case C
Case D
1 A
ro
o
o
7
27
>200,<400
1
>400, <800
3
>800,<1600
2
3
>1600
>0
12
31
TABLE 32. Number of assessed mining impoundments associated with each
element of the health hazard matrix (step 6).
Di stance, meters
Case A
Case B
Case C
Case D
<200
1
8
>200,1400
1
>400,i800
2
1
>800 ,<1600
1
>1600
>0
3
10
1
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TABLE 33. Number of assessed municipal impoundments associated with
each element of the health hazard matrix (step 6).
Distance, meters
Case A
Case B
Case C
Case D
<200
20
3
>200,<400
3
>400,<800
2
2
>800 ,<1600
2
>1600
1
>0
2
27
3
1
TABLE 34. Number of assessed oil and gas impoundments associated wi
each element of the health hazard matrix (step 6).
Distance, meters
Case A
Case B
Case C
Case D
<200
9
O
o
VI
o
o
CM
A
7
1
>400 ,<800
7
>800,<1600
7
4
4
>1600
11
>0
7
27
5
11
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42
of the movement of ground water from the majority of impoundment sites.
This condition was found to be associated with 83% of the municipal im-
poundments, 72% of the industrial impoundments, and 71% of the mining
impoundments. Furthermore, a very high proportion of these cases are
associated with streams that are within 200 meters of the impoundment
(element 8B of the rating matrix, Appendix I).
A significant number of impoundments are associated with element
9A of the rating matrix. This element corresponds to the case where a
water well is located within 200 meters of these impoundments and is
in the anticipated direction of ground water flow from the impoundment.
Sixteen percent of the industrial and 14 percent of the agricultural
impoundments fall within this element. A fairly large proportion of the
oil and gas impoundments fall within the element labeled 0D which is the
case where there are no surface water bodies or water wells within 1,600
meters of the impoundment site in any direction.
SUMMARY OF CONFIDENCE RATINGS
The degree of confidence in the numerical ratings of steps 1,2,
3, 4, and 6 is designated as A, B or C in accordance with guidance in the
aforementioned technical guidance manual. The letter "A" corresponds
to the highest confidence and "C" to the lowest. The number of assessed
impoundments associated with each confidence rating is summarized in
Table 35. Twenty-six percent of all the confidence ratings are "A",
sixty-six percent are "B". and eight percent are "C". A large proportion
of the "A" ratings are associated with step 3. This high rating in step
3 is appropriate because known drinking supply wells were usually found
to be present in the vicinity of the impoundments. The high proportion
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TABLE 35. Number of assessed impoundments associated with each
confidence rating.
All
Rating
1
2
Step
3
4
6
Total
A
27
29
127
3
12
198
B
112
112
3
150
134
511
C
15
13
24
1
8
61
Agricultural
Rating
1
2
Step
3
4
6
Total
A
2
3
12
0
1
18
B
10
9
0
14
13
46
C
2
2
2
0
0
6
Industri al
Rati ng
1
2
Step
3
4
6
Total
A
10
11
42
1
5
69
B
31
30
0
42
39
142
C
3
3
2
1
0
9
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44
TABLE 35. Number of assessed impoundments associated with each
confidence rating (continued).
Mining
Step
Rati ng
1
2
3
4
6
Total
A
1
3
8
2
1
15
B
11
8
1
12
11
43
C
2
3
5
0
2
12
Municipal
Rating
1
2
Step
3
4
6
Total
A
8
6
24
0
3
41
B
22
26
1
33
30
112
C
3
1
8
0
0
12
Oil and Gas
Rati ng
1
2
Step
3
4
6
Total
A
6
6
42
0
2
56
B
39
40
1
50
42
172
C
5
4
7
0
6
22
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45
of "B" ratings is due to the general lack of reliable detailed information
on specific sites. However, available information was usually better
than that associated with the "C" rating.
RESOURCE AFFECTED BY IMPOUNDMENTS
A report by the United States Geological Survey and the Montana
Bureau of Mines and Geology (1963, p. 146) summarizes the degree of de-
pendence of Montana citizens on ground water as follows:
"Ground water is used exclusively by 92
municipalities, 40 are supplied by surface water
and 19 use combinations of surface and ground
water. Nearly 55% of the states population is
supplied by surface water of good quality. Ground
water is the primary source of rural domestic, and
stock water supplies. About 80% of the commercial
and industrial use is supplied from surface water
sources."
Assuming water use conditions have not changed significantly since 1963,
these figures suggest that 45% of the States population utilizes ground
water for a supply and that 20% of the commercial and industrial use is
supplied by ground water. Most of the smaller towns utilize ground water,
and it would be extremely costly for them to change to surface water
and treat it adequately. As indicated by the previous discussion, many
of the impoundments are located in areas of thick, alluvial sand and
gravel aquifers; and many impoundments are located in areas of thick
sand and gravel in Tertiary and Quaternary valley-fill deposits of the
intermontane valleys. These aquifers are important sources of water
in Montana.
Greater use is made of surface water; and the preceding analysis
indicates that a very large proportion of wastewater impoundments are
located near streams. These streams are sources of water supply for
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municipal, agricultural, industrial and recreational use. In general,
the data seems to indicate that the hazard associated with surface waste-
water impoundments in Montana is small; but a large potential for ground
water and surface water contamination may be associated with a small
fraction of impoundments that might contain mobile substances and be located
on water table aquifers under shallow water table conditions. Since the
present study is a reconnaissance-level investigation, an accurate
appraisal of the hazard to ground water cannot be made.
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CHAPTER 5
WATER TABLE AQUIFERS
A generalized summary of water table aquifers in Montana is presented
in Table 36. Comprehensive information on water table aquifers was not
a part of the Grant Agreement nor was it collected as part of this project.
However, many maps and reports that contain information on water table
aquifers were used to gather information for the assessment of ground
water contamination potential. The reports containing information on
water table aquifers which were used in the assessment phase are listed
in Appendix II. This is not necessarily a complete list of the reports
that contain such information for the whole state. Available reports
and maps contain much information on water table aquifers in Montana.
However, many areas of Montana have not yet been adequately mapped. In-
formation on these poorly mapped areas would have to be obtained from
air photographs, satellite images, and water well drillers' logs. The
well drillers' logs are on file at the Montana Water Rights Bureau,
Department of Natural Resources, Helena, Montana.
47
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48
TABLE 36. Water table aquifers in Montana.
Water Table Aquifers
Recent and Pleistocene
alluvium in stream valleys.
Recent and Pleistocene
alluvium in intermontane
valleys.
Alluvial fans.
Meltwater channels and other
fluvial deposits associated
with continental glaciation.
Terrace deposits.
Moraines of mountain glaciers,
Gravel capped uplands.
Location
Along major streams and most
small tributaries.
Broad areas on floors of several
large intermontane valleys in
western Montana.
Widely distributed in mountainous
areas.
Northeastern Montana.
Widespread along major rivers,
Western Montana.
Great Plains.
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CHAPTER 6
CLAIMS OF GROUND WATER POLLUTION FROM SURFACE IMPOUNDMENTS
METHOD AND SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION
During the course of the work involved in locating and counting
impoundments and in assessing the ground water contamination potential
of randomly selected impoundments, information was gathered on claims
of ground water contamination by seepage from surface wastewater impound-
ments. Some of these claims were selected for further investigation.
These investigations included gathering information from the files of
the Montana Water Quality Bureau and contacting County Sanitarians,
impoundment owners, and others who might have information. Some of the
impoundment sites involved in these claims were inspected from the air
during the course of the ground water pollution potential assessment
phase of the investigation. Others were inspected on the ground. No
water samples were collected during the present investigations, and no
monitoring wel1s were constructed. The investigations consisted of gathering
available information and analyzing it. Some of the claims did not prove
to be claims of actual ground water pollution. Instead, they were claims
of potential pollution that were based on the assumption that wastewater
which seeps into the ground necessarily pollutes ground water. Two of the
sites associated with claims of potential pollution were not inspected.
Individual claims are discussed below.
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR COMPANY, BILLINGS
The Great Western Sugar factory is located at the south edge of
Billings in the NEl; of section 10, T1S, R26E. It is engaged in processing
sugar beets for the manufacture of sucrose and by-products. The factory
49
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50
has a system of eleven ponds that cover about 64 acres. North-south
roads are located on the east and west boundaries of the factory property,
immediately adjacent to some of the ponds. The east side of the road
along the east boundary of the factory property (Sugar Avenue) is lined
with business establishments and one or more private homes. The west
side of the road on the west side of the property (Riverside Road) is
lined with fairly closely spaced residences. A densly populated resi-
dential section of Billings is located immediately north of the factory
property, and several small, but densely populated subdivisions, are lo-
cated immediately south of the property. The factory buildings are located
in the northeast corner of the property, and most of the remainder of the
property is covered by the wastewater ponds.
The evidence for ground water contamination in the area is (1) that
water from a private well across the road east of the factory was observed
to turn black and form a black precipitate after being pumped from the
well several years ago; and (2) that a well across the road west of the
factory was reported by the owner to contain water that smelled like
rotten eggs. No chemical analysis is available for water from the first
well. An analysis on the water from the second well reported by H. K. M.
Associates (1977) showed a conductivity of 490 micromhos/cm at 25 C°, a
pH of 8.6, a nitrate-nitrogen concentration less than .05 mg/1, a chloride
concentration of 13.05 mg/1, and total coliforms less than 1 per 100 ml.
The later analysis does not seem to be indicative of contamination. A
chemical analysis of the black precipitate reported on the east side of the
property is not available. However, the formation of the precipitate is
consistent with the precipitation of ferric hydroxide which is described by
Hem (1970, p. 122) as follows:
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51
"Ground water with a pH between 6 and 8 can be
sufficiently reducing to carry as much as 50 mg/1
of ferrous iron at equilibrium, where bicarbonate
activity does not exceed 61 mg/1. In many areas
the occurance of 1.0-10 mg/1 of iron in ground water
is common. This type of water is clear when first
drawn from the well, but soon becomes cloudy and then
brown from precipitating ferric hydroxide. Wells
that yield water of this type may appear to be
erratically distributed around the area, and some
exhibit changes in composition of their water with
time that are difficult for hydrologists to explain."
This origin for the black precipitate seems to be a viable hypothesis.
Under equilibrium conditions in ground water systems, ferrous ion con-
centrations increase rapidly as pH decreases toward 6.0. It is noteworthy
that effluent from the Great Western Sugar factory ponds has been reported
to have pH ranging as low as 6.30o It is also noteworthy that the pH of
septic tank effluent typically falls in the range of 6.53 to 7.45 (Peavy,
1978). Consequently, it is concievable that either wastewater seeping
from the factory ponds or effluent seeping from nearby septic tank drain-
fields could lower the pH of the ground water sufficiently to cause an
unusual amount of iron to go into solution and then be precipated upon
exposure to the atmosphere where it reacts with oxygen and bicarbonate
ions in the water to form a precipitate of ferric hydroxide with the
evolution of carbon dioxide. Such precipitation of ferric hydroxide may
also occur under natural conditions in uncontaminated water.
Another line of evidence for ground water contamination in the vicinity
of the Great Western Sugar factory is that water wells located south of
the factory contain higher concentrations of nitrate than do water wells
located in the area west of the factory (H. K. M. Associates, 1977, Plate 6).
The surficial materials in the vicinity of the factory are terrace
deposits that consist of surficial clay and silty clay, to 10 feet thick,
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52
that is underlain by sand and gravel deposits, 14 to 25 feet thick.
Bedrock beneath the sand and gravel is the Colorado Shale, which is thick,
impermeable shale (H. K. M. Associates, 1977). The surface of the terrace
deposits slopes very gently northeastward.
The area has a high water table and a drainage ditch (Yegen Drain)
passes northeastward through the factory property. These hydrologic
and geologic conditions suggest that the slope of the water table is
most likely to be northeastward during any water table stages that are
sufficiently low that it would not be affected by the drain; and the
water table is likely to slope toward the drain anytime the water table
is high enough to be affected by it. Private water wells are present
in the area immediately south of the impoundments and the area across
the road east from the impoundments. The wells obtain water from the
terrace gravels, and they range from 17 to 30 feet deep. Some of them
are constructed with well-points.
The site was rated at a ground water hazard potential of 22 during
the assessment phase. This was the only site with a claimed pollution
problem that happened to be randomly selected to be assessed.
None of the chemical analyses of water obtained from water wells in
the area show any concentrations of nitrate or bacteria that exceed the
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for drinking water (H. K.
M. Associates, 1977). Consequently, it is doubtful if this water should
be classified as polluted. However, the presence of the black precipitate
in one well and the presence of as much as 3.9 mg/1 of nitrate-nitrogen
in wells of the area suggest that either the factory ponds or private
septic systems are affecting the quality of the ground water. The ponds
are reported to have been lined with bentonite, but no estimates of
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53
percolation rates from the ponds have yet been made. It is not possible
on the basis of available evidence to distinguish between the degree of
influence of the septic systems and the factory ponds on the grund water.
However, it is noteworthy that nitrate concentration associated with septic
tank influences elsewhere have exceeded the nitrate concentrations found
in this area. Since the population density in the vicinity of the pri-
vate wells in the area is fairly high, the nitrate levels are consistent
with levels that would be expected from the influence from the septic
systems alone. On the other hand, the formation of black precipitates in
well water is not commonly associated with septic systems. In summary,
available data does not seem to substantiate any claim that ground water
in the vicinity of the Great Western Sugar factory has been polluted by
seepage from the ponds, but the situation suggests that the black pre-
cipitate in the well east of the factory may have been caused by the
influence of low pH water seeping from the ponds. Any influence that the
ponds may have had on the quality of ground water in the area was probably
reduced when the ponds were sealed with bentonite.
Residents south of the ponds claim that the ponds cause water to
surface in that area. This claim was investigated by Alf Halteng, Montana
Water Quality Bureau. His conclusion in a report dated March 21, 1977
was that he felt that the problem was caused by a combination of high
ground water and septic tank drainfields. The fact that the mud ponds
closest to the seep area were not used in the year Mr. Halteng investi-
gated the complaint led him to believe that the seepage was not a problem
of the Great Western Sugar Company ponds. Theoretical considerations
would indicate that if the ponds leak at all, they would have some effect
on the elevation of the water table in their vicinity. However, insufficient
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54
data is available to allow an estimate pertaining to whether this effect
is significant.
KREZELECK RENDERING PLANT, HAVRE
The Krezeleck Rendering Plant is located about one mile northeast
of Havre. The wastewater ponds associated with the plant are located
in the SWJ4 of the SE% of the SEJa of section 33, T33N, R16E. The plant
is no longer in use, but sludge has been dumped by Burlington Northern,
Inc. on the land surface immediately north of the plant buildings. Im-
poundments that were formerly used for rendering plant effluent are located
on a terrace below the sludge piles and immediately north of them. The
Burlington Northern Railroad passes just north of the impoundments and
the Milk River is immediately north of the railroad. The river has cut
down about 15 feet below the level of the terrace upon which the ponds
and railroad are located.
Oil has flowed down over the ground surface from the sludge piles
into the ponds; and the ponds contain deposits of thick, tarry oil. A
small depression in the land surface is present between the base of the
northern dike of the pond system and the embankment of the railroad.
This depression contains a small amount of water that had an unnatural
green color and an iridescent surface on the day of the field inspection.
A sample of water from this depression, collected on an earlier date,
had a pink color. No chemical analysis was made of the water. However,
the unusual color indicates that it contains unnatural impurities. The
only obvious explanation for the presence of impurities is seepage of
oil-contaminated water through the impoundment dike and into this small
surface depression. The water level in the depression is about 10 feet
below the surface of the oily water in the eastern impoundment. The
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55
horizontal distance from the impoundment is very short, perhaps 20 feet.
Examination of the sloping ground between the railroad tracks and the
Milk River revealed no seepage, and no iridescence or other indication
of contamination of the river was observed.
The sludge piles appear to be on clayey till that was deposited by
the continental glacier that covered this area. The Milk River is fol-
lowing the preglacial Missouri River Valley, which contains thick deposits
of alluvium with sand and gravel lenses. The slope of the ground sur-
face in the area is from the ponds toward the river, and this is probably
the direction of ground water movement. The distance from the ponds to
the river is only about 200 feet, and no water wells are located between
the ponds and the river.
TREASURE STATE ACRES, HELENA
A pond system for the treatment of sewage from a residential subdivisio.
called Treasure State Acres is located in the south half of the NW% of
section 9, T10N, R3W, about lh miles northeast of Helena. A drainage ditch,
about 10 feet deep, passes along the eastern edge of the eastern dike
of the system. The bottom of the ditch is about 30 feet east of the top
of the dike. Inspection of the ditch revealed that the side of the ditch
next to the pond was wet to about lh feet above the water level in the
ditch. Furthermore, some water was standing in cow tracks about a foot
above the water level in the ditch. The opposite wall of the ditch was
dry and the side of the ditch nearest to the pond had denser vegetation
than the other side. Such evidence of seepage into the ditch was not
present except where the ditch passed by the pond. The pond system had
been sealed with bentonite, and the subsurface material in the vicinity
of the pond is gravel, sand, silt, and clay mixed in varying proportions.
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56
The land surface slopes very gently northeastward. The general direction
of ground water flow is northeastward. The evidence suggests that seepage
from the ponds has caused the water table to rise above its normal elevation
in the vicinity of the ponds and has increased seepage into the drainage
ditch that passes immediately east of the ponds. However, no chemical
analyses of this seepage is available; and no field observations indicate
that the water seeping into the ditch is polluted.
PLENTYWOOD AND CHERRY CREEK SEWAGE TREATMENT PONDS
The Plentywood municipal sewage treatment ponds are located near
the town of Plentywood in the extreme northeastern corner of the State;
and sewage treatment ponds for a residential subdivision called Cherry
Creek are located in Valley County about lk miles northwest of Glasgow.
Both pond systems are on alluvium. Land owners adjacent to each of these
pond systems have claimed that they are polluting the ground water.
However, review of the complaints shows that the main complaint in each
case is that the ponds are causing waterlogging of land adjacent to them.
Since the land owners believe that the waterlogging is caused by seepage
from the ponds, they infer that the ground water in the vicinity of the
ponds is being polluted. There are no chemical analyses or other direct
evidence that pollution has, indeed, occurred. The operators of the
Cherry Creek sewage ponds have sealed one pond with bentonite; and at
last report, they had begun draining the second pond so that it could be
sealed too. The owner of the land near the Plentywood ponds has sued the
City of Plentywood for damages. One item in the complaint submitted to
the district court claims that the plaintiff obtains drinking water from
a water well that pumps water from an "underground stream."
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57
OIL AND GAS IMPOUNDMENTS
Two complaints of ground water pollution by oil and gas impoundments
were reviewed. These complaints were recieved by the Montana Water Quality
Bureau from the Northeast Montana Land and Mineral Owners Association, Inc.
The complaints involved an oil and gas impoundment that was said to be
located in section 33, T26N, R57E, and an oil and gas impoundment in
section 6, T34N, R57E„ The landowner reported to be affected by one
impoundment and the wife of the owner reported to be affected by the
other were contacted. They were unaware of any ground water pollution
claims.
It is noteworthy that the Montana Land and Mineral Owners Association
indicated that the most common evidence of ground water contamination
reported by land owners was that salt water disposal pits near ponds and
sloughs have overflowed into the ponds and sloughs. Inspection of oil
and gas impoundments from the air during the assessment phase of this in-
vestigation revealed a considerable number of cases where oily material
could be seen to have overflowed into the courses of ephemeral streams.
KING ARTHUR'S MOBILE HOME PARK, BOZEMAN
The King Arthur's Mobile Home Park is located in the NW% of section
16, T2S, R5E, about 3 miles west of Bozeman. There had been some concern
that the pond system that served this mobile home park was polluting
ground water, because water balance considerations indicated that they
were losing much water by seepage. The pond system is located on grav-
elly and sandy materials of the Bozeman Fan, which is a piedmont alluvial
fan. The soils in the area are typically silt loam and silty clay loam
to a depth of 16 to 22 inches; below 22 inches, the subsurface material
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58
is typically loose sand and gravel. Although considerable wastewater
may have seeped into the subsurface here, a Gallatin County Sanitarian
says that there have been no reports of ground water contamination near
the ponds except that a water sample from the King Arthur's Mobile Home
Park system contained a total coliform count of one coliform per 100 ml.
Recently, the system of impoundments at the mobile home park has been
upgraded by sealing them, increasing the height of the dikes, and adding
a third sealed cell. The seal is bentonite mixed with loam, and the
specifications call for a minimum of 5% bentonite. This is another case
in which there was some concern about contamination of ground water be-
cause of known or suspected seepage from municipal ponds; however, no
contamination has been substantiated.
MUNICIPAL SLUDGE DRYING BEDS, HELENA
A series of ten sludge drying beds is located at the Helena Municipal
Sewage Treatment Plant, which is located in the SE% of the SE1^ of section 17,
T10N, R3W. These beds are unlined and they are excavated in alluvial
valley-fill deposits that are composed of gravel, sand, silt, and clay
mixed in varying proportions. Sand and gravel beds in this alluvium
are a major source of water for residences in the vicinity of the sewage
treatment plant. Consequently, there has been some concern regarding
possible contamination of water supplies by seepage from these drying
beds. The land surface slopes gently northeastward in the vicinity of
the beds, and the regional water table gradient is also northeastward.
No contamination has yet been reported in water wells northeast of the
beds. Sludge beds have been in operation at this site for a number of
years. They were expanded in 1974 and again in 1978.
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59
A ground water monitoring well has been installed near the northeastern
corner of the sludge drying beds. It is north of an irrigation canal that
passes along the northern edge of the beds. Another well has been installed
near the sewage treatment plant, which is located near the southwestern
edge of the beds. These wells are constructed of 1\ inch steel pipe,
which are open at the bottom end but are not perforated. Water samples
were collected from the well located near the northeastern corner of the
beds in September and December, 1978, and in February, April, July, August,
and October, 1979. All of these samples were analyzed for nitrate plus
nitrite as nitrogen and for specific conductance. Some of the samples were
analyzed for ammonia, iron, manganese, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and
zinc. The concentrations of none of these constituents exceeded standards
for drinking water supplies. However, a sample of liquid supernatant col-
lected from a sludge drying bed in September, 1978 showed that the super-
natant exceeded recommended public water supply limits for chloride, sulfate,
nitrate, ammonia, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, iron, manganese, and
zinc. The pH of the supernatant was 2.86. Nitrate and nitrite as nitrogen
was 20.00 mg/1 and ammonia as nitrogen was 45 mg/1. Since nitrate is
mobile in the ground water system, it would be expected to be a major
contributor to any ground water contamination caused by operating the
sludge beds. Nitrate concentrations in the observation well are shown in
Table 37. These values are within the range of values for nitrate found
in water wells eleswhere in the Helena Valley (Wilke and Coffin, 1973).
However, 2.7 mg/1 is higher than average (1.1 mg.l). Although nitrate
and other potentially harmful substances remain low in this observation
well, it is interesting to note that the chloride concentration was 108
mg/1 in December, 1978 and 325 mg/1 in February 1979. The highest chloride
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concentration from wells in the Helena Valley reported by Wilke and Coffin
(1973) was 92 mg/1; the average was 13. However, all but one of Wilke
and Coffin's data was collected in August and on the first day of September.
A sample collected from the subject observation well in September, 1978
contained only 9.8 mg/1 chloride. Consequently, there is a possibility
that the chloride concentrations vary seasonally.
TABLE 37. Concentrations of chloride and nitrate plus nitrite
as nitrogen in a monitoring well near the Helena sludge
drying beds (mg/1).
1978 1979
Sept Dec Jan Feb Apr July Aug Oct
N0^+N02-N 1.6 0.24 0.68 0.01 0.08 .21 .06 2.7
Cl~ 9.8 108.0 325.0 11.7
The construction and the position of the monitoring well appears to
be adequate. The well is reported to be 45 feet deep, although its total
depth was measured as only 39.5 feet on April 26, 1979. The water level
in the well has fluctuated from a depth of 22.5 feet to 38.7 feet. Al-
though the well is sampling from a few feet below the water table, it
appears to be affected by changes in chemical composition near the water
table, because limited data suggest the specific conductance declines
during the irrigation season when the water table is rising due to seepage
of irrigation water. The conductance rises again during the winter months.
The well is located downgradient from the sludge drying beds. The influence
of the canal that is present between the sludge drying beds and the well
should be to raise the water table, but the water table does not rise
high enough to intercept the base of the canal. Consequently, contaminants
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should pass beneath the canal and enter the monitoring well. It would,
of course, be better to have a monitoring well on the same side of the
canal as the sludge drying beds and to have it perforated through the
zone of fluctuation of the water table so that the hazard of missing con-
tamination at the water table would be reduced. It would also be better
to have a reference well located a short distance upgradient from the
drying beds. The monitoring well located near the southwest corner of the
drying beds seems a bit too close; and it has been dry, so that samples
couldnotbe collected.
SUMMARY OF GROUND WATER POLLUTION CLAIMS
Eighteen claims that ground water had been polluted by a wastewater
impoundment were discovered during this investigation. This value is
2.7 percent of the total number of impoundment sites located, which was
676. Eight of these eighteen sites were choosen for further investigation.
Of these eight, only one, the Great Western Sugar Factory at Billings,
was found to be associated with anomalously poor quality water in a well
used for drinking water supplies. In this case, excessive iron may have
been present. It is possible that this water quality problem could have
been caused by nearby septic tanks or it could be a natural occurrence
One documented case where the quality of ground water has been affected
by seepage of wastewater from impoundments is the presence of color in
ground water monitoring wells associated with the Hoerner Waldorf plant
near Missoula. Consequently, the number of cases in which there is any
direct evidence for ground water contamination is two. These are both
associated with very large systems of industrial wastewater ponds. In
the first case, Great Western Sugar, there is some question regarding
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whether the quality problem is caused by the ponds; and the ponds have
now been sealed, possibly eliminating or greatly reducing any effect of
the ponds on the quality of ground water in the area. In the second
case, Hoerner Waldorf, the water quality problem extends to the Clark
Fork River, but it was not described as affecting drinking water supplies
in wells outside of the plant property. Such results seem to indicate
that presently utilized drinking water supplies in Montana have not yet
been impacted much by seepage of wastewater from surface impoundments.
Since most of the impoundments are less than 10 years old, and the rate
of movement of ground water is fairly slow in many geologic settings,
predicting the future effects of the impoundments on drinking water supplies
is beyond the scope of the present investigation.
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CHAPTER 7
EVALUATION OF EXISTING STATE PROGRAM
SUMMARY OF PROGRAMS
The Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences (MDHES)
has the most control over protection of ground water from pollution by
seepage from surface impoundments. It is responsible for the administra-
tion and enforcement of the State's water pollution control laws. It
issues waste discharge permits and performs water quality monitoring and
investigations. The Board of Health and Environmental Sciences, which
consists of seven members appointed by the Governor, adopts the rules
and water quality standards which the MDHES administers. The Board has
the power to issue orders to prevent pollution and to hold hearings to
make determinations in controversies where a person or other entity is
not satisfied with an action of the MDHES. The MDHES receives policy
guidance pertaining to water pollution from the Water Pollution Control
Advisory Council. This council consists of eight members appointed by
the Governor plus the directors of the Departments of Fish and Game,
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Conservation, and Health and Environmental
Sciences. Membership of this council represents State and local govern-
ment, industry, agriculture, recreation, and fish and wildlife interests.
Several Montana laws and implementing regulations require permits
for such facilities as mines and power plants, which often contain waste-
water impoundments. The Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act, the
Open Cut Mining Act, and the Hardrock Mining Act administered by the
Department of State Lands, and the Major Facility Siting Act, administered
by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, require permits.
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Surface wastewater impoundments are scrutinized and controlled through
permit requirements or in the process of preparation and review of envi-
ronmental impact statements. The Oil and Gas Conservation Division of
the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has regula-
tions which prohibit brine evaporation ponds which seep excessively.
Furthermore, individual counties in Montana have zoning powers which
authorize restrictions on certain land uses for the purpose of protecting
water quality. Nuisance laws may also be used in controlling ground
water pollution; and a person may sue for damages if he suffers a loss
when another person or entity pollutes ground water.
The powers of various Montana boards and agencies in controlling
ground water pollution by wastewater impoundments will be discussed in
more detail below.
BOARD OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Montana law (MCA 75-6-103) requires the Board of Health and Environ-
mental Sciences to supervise all State waters which are directly or in-
directly being used for a public water supply system or domestic purposes.
It is important to note that the definition of "State waters" includes
any body of water, either surface or underground. Consequently, ground
water is a State water; and all laws and rules applying to State water
apply to ground water. The Board is required to "establish and modify
the classification of all waters in accordance with the present and future
most benefical uses" and to "formulate standards of water purity and classi-
fication of water according to its most benefical uses, giving consideration
to the economics of waste treatment and prevention" (MCA 75-5-202). This
section also requires that "the Board shall require that any State waters,
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whose existing quality is higher than the established water quality
standards, be maintained at that high quality unless it has been affirma-
tively demonstrated to the Board that change is justifiable as a result
of necessary economic or social development and will not preclude the
present and anticipated use of these waters; and the Board shall require
any industrial, public, or private project or development, which would
constitute a new source of pollution or an increased source of pollution
to high quality waters...to provide the degree of waste treatment neces-
sary to maintain that existing high water quality." This section also
requires the Board to "adopt rules governing application for permits to
discharge sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes into State waters
including rules requiring the filing of plans and specifications relating
to the construction, modification, or operation of disposal systems."
Alleged violators of Montana water pollution control laws may be required
to appear before the Board for a public hearing and to answer charges
made against them. However, this provision of the law is seldom used.
More frequently, the MDHES initiates litigation for a civil penalty or
for a criminal penalty (under MCA 75-5-631 and 75-5-632). When a hearing
does occur, the Board may issue an order for the prevention, abatement,
or control of the pollution; or, in addition to or instead of issuing an
order, the Board may direct the MDHES to initiate action for recovery of a
penalty. An appeal of an order of the Board may be made in district court.
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Administration of the Montana Water Quality Act is a major duty
of the MDHES. This act makes it unlawful to cause pollution of any
State waters or to place or cause to be placed any waste in a location
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where they are likely to cause pollution of any State waters. As mentioned
above, State waters include ground water. In this act, pollution is the
impairment of the quality of State waters by sewage, industrial wastes, or
other wastes creating a hazard to human health or other alteration of the
physical, chemical or biological properties of any State water, which
exceeds that permitted by Montana water quality standards or the seepage
of any liquid into any State water which will or is likely to create a
nuisance or render the waters harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public
health, recreation, safety, welfare, livestock, wild animals, birds, fish,
or other wildlife. This act makes it unlawful to discharge sewage, indus-
trial waste, or other wastes into any State waters without a permit from
the MDHES. Rules have been adopted regarding permits for discharging
wastewater to surface water bodies, but rules regarding discharging pollu-
tants into ground water have not yet been adopted. However, persons may
apply to the MDHES protesting pollution of State waters, and the MDHES is
required to investigate the complaint and to make a written report to the
protestor. If a violation is established by the investigation, appro-
priate enforcement action must be taken. Enforcement action may also
be taken to prevent pollution of State water if such pollution seems
imminent. The MDHES has the power to enter upon any public or private
property to investigate conditions relating to pollution of State waters and
has other powers related to access and sampling. Since it is unlawful to
cause pollution of any State waters or to place or cause to be placed any
waste in a location where it is likely to cause pollution to any State
waters (MCA 75-5-605), the MDHES has authority to stop any pollution of
ground water by surface wastewater impoundments, and to take action to
prevent pollution by such impoundments.
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The MDHES also administers the Montana Public Water Supply Law.
Duties under this lav/ include (1) "upon its own initiative or complaint
to the Department.make an investigation of alleged pollution of a
water supply system and, if required, prohibit the continuance of the
pollution by ordering removal of the cause of pollution," (2) "advise
persons as to the best method of treating and disposing of their drainage,
sewage, or wastewater... to prevent pollution," and (3) "consult with
persons engaged in or intending to engage in manufacturing or other busi-
ness whose drainage or sewage may tend to pollute waters as to the best
method of preventing pollution." This law also makes it unlawful to "con-
struct, alter, or extend any system of...wastewater, or sewage disposal
without first submitting necessary maps, plans, and specifications to
the Department for its review and approval
The State's delegated construction grants program also reviews
municipal impoundments and provides a good measure of control. Procedures
under this program require a comprehensive engineering report on proposed
sewer systems (ARM 16-2.14 (10)-S14321). The report must be prepared in
accordance with the criteria set forth in the Recommended Standards for
Sewage Works prepared by the Great Lakes-Upper Mississippi River Board of
State Sanitary Engineers. These standards require (1) soil borings to
determine subsurface soil characteristics in the vicinity of a proposed
wastewater pond, (2) a minimum separation of 4 feet between the bottom
of a pond and the maximum water table elevation, (3) that ponds shall
not be located in areas subject to karstification, and (4) that ponds
be sealed to effect a percolation rate of less than 500 gallons per day
per acre at a water depth of 6 feet.
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Certain rules that have been promulgated under the Montana Water
Quality Act give the MDHES specific authority over certain wastewater
impoundments. The Montana In-situ Mining of Uranium Control System (ARM
16-2.14 (10)-S14465) is for the purpose of implementing a permit system
to control the discharge of pollutants into ground waters from activities
associated with in-situ solution mining of uranium. This rule applies
primarily to injection wells. However, it requires owners to submit
plans for retention of process waters and the disposal of wastewater at
the processing plant. These plans must include an approved lining, an
underdrain leak detection system, and pond surveillance wells. The plans
must show that the ponds are located out of drainageways. The rule also
requires the submission of plans for the emergency storage, handling,
treatment, and disposal of leaks, spills, and waters pumped from the
underground to control or confine excursion. All of these plans must
be approved by the MDHES.
The MDHES also has established rules for design of sewage disposal
systems at residential subdivisions (ARM 16-214 (10)-S14340 (Subdivisions)).
These rules require that multiple-family sewer systems should be designed
in accordance with the Recommended Standards for Sewage Works prepared by
the Great Lakes-Upper Mississippi River Board of State Sanitary Engineers.
The provisions of these standards were discussed above. In connection
with subdivisions, it should be noted that the MDHES also licenses those
businesses which clean cesspools, septic tanks, and privies, and promul-
gates rules for the proper operation of such cleaning businesses including
the disposal of the wastes.
Licenses from the MDHES are also required for the operation of
hazardous waste disposal sites, which include surface impoundments that
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receive hazardous liquids. State regulations (ARM 16-2.14 (8)-S14315)
provide effective control of the location and construction of such im-
poundments. Furthermore, hazardous waste impoundments must also satisfy
EPA regulations.
The MDHES also has some influence on the construction of wastewater
impoundments at the sites of "major facilities." Major facilities include
such things as electricity generating plants and synthetic fuel plants.
Under this act the MDHES is obligated to report to the Department of
Natural Resources regarding the impact of any proposed facility site with
respect to water and health matters, and the report may contain opinions
related to the advisability of granting or modifying plans. The Board of
Natural Resources and Conservation may not issue a certificate for the
facility unless the Board of Health and Environmental Sciences has certi-
fied that the proposed facility will not violate State and Federal standards.
From the foregoing discussion, one can see that the MDHES has
considerable authority related to the pollution of ground water by seepage
from surface wastewater impoundments. That authority is derived primarily
from the fact that it is unlawful to pollute State waters, ana ground
water is specifically included in State waters. However, the emphasis
to date has been placed on the protection of surface water. To effectively
implement the law, the MDHES needs to promulgate standards and regulations
pertaining to ground water. To date, the MDHES has completed a draft of
ground water quality standards and regulations and expects to finalize
them in the near future. With these regulations and adequate staffing,
the State should have reasonably good control over pollution from surface
wastewater impoundments,,
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OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION DIVISION
The Oil and Gas Conservation Division of the Department of Natural
Resources and Conservation has authority over the disposal of salt or
brackish water produced by oil wells. Their regulations prohibit storing
or retaining oil in earthen storage reservoirs. The regulations allow
for the disposal of salt or brackish water into earthen pits when the
pit is underlaid by tight soil such as heavy clay or hardpan. The regu-
lations prohibit impomding salt or brackish water in such earthen pits
where the soil under the pit is porous and closely underlaid by gravel or
sand. The Division hcs authority to condemn any pit which does not properly
impound such water, but permits to operate pits are not required.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE LANDS
The Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act requires a person
desiring to commence preparatory work on a mine site to obtain a permit
from the Department of State Lands. The Department may not issue a permit
if it finds that the proposed strip mine or underground mine would cause
a degradation of natural resources (MCA 82-4-101 and 82-4-102). Another
ground for denying a permit is available when the Department finds that
the operation will constitute a hazard to a stream or lake (MCA 82-4-227).
Department of State Lands rules that were adopted by the Board of Land
Commissioners on July 16, 1979 and will become effective when the
Secretary of the Interior approves Montana's program, state that each
reclamation and operational plan shall contain a detailed description
of the measures to be taken during and after the proposed surface mining
activities to ensure "he protection of the quality of surface and ground
water systems, both within the proposed mine plan and adjacent areas, from
the adverse effects of the proposed strip or underground mine operations.
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The Open Cut Mining Act applies to any mine operator who intends
to remove by surface mining 10,000 or more cubic yards of bentonite,
clay, scoria, phosphate rock, sand or gravel. The Board of Land
Commissioners may not approve any reclamation plan for such mines that
involves impoundments unless the formation of such impoundments will
not contribute to water pollution (MCA 82-4-434). Sanctions of bond
forfeiture and a provision for a criminal penalty are included in this
1 aw.
The Hard Rock Mining Act applies to the mining of all minerals not
covered by the Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act and the Open
Cut Mining Act. Permits are required from the Department of State Lands
for exploration, development, and mining if the proposed operation will
remove at least 100 tons in the aggregate in any 24 hour period. The
criteria for issuing an operating permit include procedures needed to
control drainage and stream pollution.
MONITORING EFFORTS AND ENFORCEMENT HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
Efforts of the State of Montana to monitor the effects of surface
wastewater impoundments on ground water quality include the installation
of monitoring wells adjacent to sewage ponds for four residential sub-
divisions and adjacent to sludge drying beds at Helena. In addition,
two mining and four industrial sites have ground water minitoring wells
in connection with their wastewater impoundments. Because of the lack of
confirmed cases of ground water pollution by seepage from surface waste-
water impoundments, no enforcement of prohibitions against such pollution
has occurred.
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ADEQUACY OF RESOURCES AND FUNDING
The Water Oua1it> Bureau of the MDHES has for some time had only
one person on staff irvolved in ground water protection. With the
apparent lack of confirmed ground water pollution problems from impound-
ments, this might seem to have been adequate. More intensive study might
have turned up some confirmed problems, however. The lack of problems
in the past may be more a result of sparse population than of close
regulation.
The time is rapidly approaching when more funds and staff will be
needed to carry on the State programs in ground water protection. Pop-
ulation is increasing rapidly in Montana, with rural subdivisions springing
up around all the major cities. The policy of the MDHES Water Quality
Bureau is not to approve any new point source surface discharges of do-
mestic waste. Therefore if new subdivisions do not hook up to existing
city sewers, they will be using total retention or land disposal facilities.
These facilities will need to be scrutinized to prevent ground water
pollution.
Energy and mineral development is expanding rapidly in Montana.
Tailings ponds, process ponds, and waste holding ponds seem to occur
at all of these sites, and will need controls.
The MDHES is developing ground water regulations and ground water
quality standards that are needed to implement the existing State Water
Quality Act in the ground water area. With these developments, additional
staff and funding will be necessary to properly implement the program.
The Solid Waste Bureau of the MDHES will be taking over the RCRA
program primacy from the EPA. They need additional staff expertise in
geology and ground water hydrology to do a good job of implementing this
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program; however, the State legislature would not approve any additional
full-time employees for that bureau. They do have some funds available
for contracting for these services, although it is too early to predict
if the funds will be adequate.
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CHAPTER 8
EVALUATION OF EXISTING FEDERAL PROGRAMS
CURRENT STATE INVOLVEMENT IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
In response to the Federal Clean Water Act, the State of Montana
has developed the Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES).
Under this system, persons and other entities wishing to discharge waste-
water into surface water bodies must submit wastewater treatment plans
to the MDHES. Conseqjently the MDHES has the opportunity to review
the adequacy of the design of surface wastewater impoundments that are
used for the treatment of water before it is discharged into surface
water bodies. The State has also been involved in planning for the pro-
tection of water resources under section 208 of the Clean Water Act.
It appears that the only Federal regulations which are directly
applicable to preventing ground water pollution from surface wastewater
impoundments, other tnan those containing radioactive or other hazardous
wastes, are the proposed Classification Criteria for Solid Waste Disposal
Facilities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The
State intends to accept the delegation of the RCRA program. The State
has a Solid Waste Management Act and Solid Waste Management Regulations.
These regulations cover impoundments that hold hazardous liquid wastes,
and leave the control of impoundments that do not contain hazardous wastes
under the State Water Quality Act. The State does not anticipate any
problems with the relationship of these regulations. The State is under
the jurisdiction of the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, which re-
gulates the disposal of toxic substances, and the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Licensing Requirements, which include Federal regulatory author-
ity over tailings ponds at uranium mills.
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Since Montana contains Federal and Indian oil and gas leases, it
is affected by Federal regulations pertaining to the disposal of pro-
duced water on these leases. Disposal methods of such water must be
approved by the District Engineer, U. S. Geological Survey. In general,
the Geological Survey requires that these disposal pits be lined and
have suitable devices for detecting leaks. However, unlined pits may be
used when the volume of water to be disposed of does not exceed 5 barrels
per day or when it is of good quality.
The State does not intend to accept the delegation of the Underground
Injection Control Program (UIC) primarily because of the required inclu-
sion of permitting requirements for injection operations for secondary
recovery of oil. Some of the aquifer information gathered for the UIC
program will undoubtedly be useful in controlling surface wastewater im-
poundments, however.
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING FEDERAL PROGRAMS
The State supports a national policy of protecting ground water
resources. However, because of local differences from state to state,
it would seem best to allow each state to develop its own ground water
protection regulations and monitoring and enforcement programs. The
Federal EPA could provide valuable technical assisstance in the form of
advice and training and possibly some form of financial assistance to
the states. The regional offices might provide closer communication
and liaison between the various states in the region, and possibly better
or more efficient solutions could be found to problems common to various
states. Seminars or workshops in the region on the handling of ground
water problems by the states would probably prove worthwhile.
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Continuing research on the mobility of wastewater constituents in
ground water systems and in unsaturated soils would help provide the
information necessary for safe and effective use of surface wastewater
impoundments. A program that would provide complete and accurate de-
scriptions of ground water pollution cases would be helpful. These
descriptions might be published annually by the EPA.
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CHAPTER 9
REVIEW OF SELECTED GROUND WATER MONITOR WELL SYSTEMS
BRIDGER PINES SUBDIVISION, GALLATIN COUNTY
The sewage treatment and disposal ponds for the Bridger Pines Subdivision
are located in section 19, TIN, R7E. The pond system consists of a small
primary cell that is 40 feet square and a holding cell that is 220 feet
by 135 feet. Only two families were reported to be using this sewage
system during the summer of 1979. The ponds are located in the bottom of
a small valley that drains eastward toward Bridger Creek.
Bedrock in the vicinity of the ponds is part of the Miner Creek
Formation. The Miner Creek Formation is primarily sandstone in the vi-
/
cinity of the ponds; but it also contains layers of siltstone, tuff, and
bentonite. Stereoscopic study of air photographs of the area indicates
that the Miner Creek beds strike approximately N10°W and dip approximately
80° eastward. The aforementioned small valley cuts through a hogback
immediately downstream from the ponds. This hogback is probably composed
of Miner Creek sandstone. The valley widens at the location of the ponds.
The widening appears to be due to the presence of beds in the Miner Creek
Formation that are relatively non-resistant to weathering and erosion. The
ponds have been constructed on thin alluvium that has been deposited in
this wide spot in the valley. During the construction of the ponds,
bedrock was reported to have been encountered in the southwest corner of
the large eel 1.
A ditch has been constructed along the upper edge of the ponds.
This ditch appears to be for the diversion of water away from the upper
edge of the ponds; it has carried enough water to cause erosion of its
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bottom; and sandstone, possibly bedrock in place, is exposed in the ditch.
The geologic setting is such that ground water would be expected to be
percolating downslope through the basal part of the alluvial material.
This interpretation is supported by a report that water entered the south-
west corner of the large pond from the surface of the bedrock formation
at an estimated rate of 2 gallons per minute during construction. The
ponds have been sealed with bentonite, and Emery Nelson (1979) said that
two 4-inch drain pipes have been installed uphill from the ponds to in-
tercept ground water. The expected direction of movement of the ground
water after it leaves r,he vicinity of the ponds is downslope along the
coarse of the small valley to Bridger Creek. There are no dwellings and
presumably no water wells, in the anticipated direction of any plume of
contaminated water tha~ might result from seepage of wastewater from the
ponds. The Bridger Guest Ranch is located southeast of the ponds, but
stereoscopic study of the air photos suggests that it is not in the direction
of ground water flow f-om the ponds.
Six ground water monitoring wells were constructed downslope from
the ponds during the summer of 1977. These wells are placed so that they
are in the estimated direction of ground water flow. They were constructed
by digging holes with a backhoe, placing perforated plastic (PVC) pipe in
the holes, and placing gravel around the bottom 5 feet of the pipe,
imperforated pipe extends from above the gravel to 2 to 2.5 feet above the
ground surface. The holes were backfilled with native soil that was reported
to have contained considerable silt and clay. The test holes were cleaned
by bailing, sterilized with a chlorine solution, and capped with tight
fitting plastic caps. All test holes were reported to have encountered
bedrock, which was sandstone and siltstone, from 5 to 12 feet below the
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ground surface. The total depths of the test holes range from 9 to 14
feet. Representatives of the Montana Water Quality Bureau, the Montana
Subdivision Bureau, the Gallatin County Sanitarian's Office, and the
owner of the ponds were contacted regarding chemical analyses of samples
taken from the wells. No record of any sampling or analysis was found.
Two of the monitoring wells located near the base of the pond dike contained
water when inspected in October, 1979; one well was dry; and the others
were not checked.
The monitoring wells appear to be properly placed and adequately
constructed for detection of any significant contamination of ground water
by seepage from the ponds. No reference well is present in the upstream
direction from the pond.
HEBGEN LAKE ESTATES, GALLATIN COUNTY
The sewage disposal ponds at Hebgen Lake Estates are located in the
NW*4 of the SVfts of section 24, T12S, R4E. The pond system consists of
one aeration basin and three percolation ponds. The aeration basin is
approximately 260 feet by 180 feet; and the percolation ponds are irreg-
ularly shaped with a total surface area of approximately 1.5 acres. The
aeration basin is lined with 15 mil PVC plastic,,
The ponds are located on the northeastern slope of a hill that is
composed of till. The till is a heterogeneous mixture of clay, clayey
sand, clay with boulders, and occasional lenses of gravel. The till in
the vicinity of the ponds is described as compact and plastic. Obsidian
sand overlies the till northeast of the ponds (downslope). The Obsidian
sand ranges up to about 100 feet in thickness. It is an alluvial outwash
deposit. The material in the deposit is fine grained sand and fine gravel
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that contains beds of clean very fine grained sand and silt. Water well
drillers also report clay. The sand consists predominantly of glassy
rhyolite, welded tuff particles, and lesser amounts of feldspar, pumice,
quartz, and lithoidal rhyolite. Permeable sand and gravel layers in this
deposit are utilized as aquifers. The Obsidian sand rests on lake beds,
which are described as yellow clay that is 10 to 30 feet thick on drillers'
logs. The lake beds are underlain by till similar to that which is present
at the ground surface in the vicinity of the sewage ponds.
Since the surface of the ground slopes northeastward, one would expect
the direction of ground water flow to be northeastward. However, Alford
(1973) reported: "The static ground water surface appeared to have little
relation to the ground topography; rising from a low point in the south-
western portion of the tract generally toward the northeast and north."
This reported static water level gradient seems rather unlikely, and should
be verified before accepting it as correct. The more likely direction
of the slope of the water table is northeastward in the direction of the
slope of the land toward the Greyling Arm of Hebgen Lake.
Two monitoring wells are associated with this pond system. One well
is located downslope from the southern part of the system approximately
90 feet from the base of the dike of one of the percolation ponds. The
other well is located about 80 feet north of the northeastern corner
of the pond system. The first well would seem to be in the direction of
the plume of any contaminated water that might seep from the aeration
basin or the nearby percolation pond. The second well would be near the
northern edge of any plume moving in the downslope direction from the
northern percolation ponds. These wells are in till. They are constructed
of 6-inch steel casing; and they are 40 feet and 64 feet deep. They are
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81
completed as open-ended casing. The wells were recently constructed;
they have not yet been sampled; and water levels have not been reported.
Water from these wells is to be sampled and tested bimonthly for ammonia,
nitrates, nitrites, total phosphorus, chlorides, specific conductance,
pH, COD, TOC, and fecal coliform. Since any contaminants from the ponds
would be expected to travel along the water table, it would be best to
perforate the casing through the zone of fluctuation of the water table;
and since reactions involving iron and nutrients in contaminated water
might alter chemical composition of stagnant water in the wells, it would
be advisable to make some provision for pumping the wells enough to remove
at least 3 volumes of water before sampling them. The wells are not
equipped with pumps.
HOLLY SUGAR CORPORATION, SIDNEY
The wastewater ponds belonging to the Holly Sugar Corporation are
located in the north half of section 34, T23N, R59E. About 8 lime ponds
are located near the factory in the NE% of the NW% of section 34, and 9
sludge ponds and wastewater treatment ponds are located in the NE^ of the
NE^ of section 34. In addition, a large spray pond is located near the
Yellowstone River in the SW^ of section 25. The spray pond receives
effluent from the wastewater treatment ponds. The lime ponds, sludge
ponds and wastewater treatment ponds have a combined surface area of
roughly 40 acres. The spray pond has a surface area of 100.5 acres.
The wastewater treatment ponds receive effluent from the Holly Sugar
factory, which processes sugar beets.
Bedrock in the vicinity of the ponds belongs to the Fort Union
Formation, which consists of fine grained sandstone, siltstone, shale,
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82
and coal. In the vicinity of the Holly factory, the Yellowstone River
has cut terraces. These terraces are covered with 10 to 40 feet of allu-
vial deposits, which contain interbedded gravel, sand, silt and clay.
The lime ponds and the factory are located on a terrace that is 40 to 46
feet above the Yellowstone River. The remaining ponds are on a lower
terrace that is 20 to 25 feet above the river.
The direction of ground water flow in the vicinity of the ponds is
probably eastward toward the river. The depth to water table in the area
appears to be 5 to 10 feet below the ground surface. The ground water
may be expected to be moving toward the river through the terrace deposits
on top of the less permeable Fort Union bedrock.
The Holly Sugar Corporation has installed 3 ground water monitoring
wells near the spray pond. Two are located between the spray pond and
the Yellowstone River, which is immediately east of the pond; and one
is located immediately west of the pond, upgradient on the water table.
These wells are constructed of 4-inch PVC pipe; they extend to about 4
feet below the water table elevation (measured January, 1976); and they
are slotted in the vicinity of the water table. These wells were sampled
monthly begining in October, 1975 and ending in June, 1976. Subsequently,
they have been sampled annually in April or June. The water samples from
the wells have been analyzed for calcium, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate,
sulfate, chloride, and specific conductance. Inspection of the chemical
anlayses reveals no clear evidence of ground water contamination. However,
it is noteworthy that sulfate concentration in the well immediately west
(upgradient) of the pond jumped from 320 mg/1 before the 1975 beet processing
campaign to over 1000 mg/1 near the end of the campaign. Sulfate concen-
trations in this well were 420 mg/1 or less after subsequent campaigns that
ended in 1977, 1978 and 1979.
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83
The Holly Sugar Corporation also has 3 test wells located in section
34 in the vicinity of the plant. These wells are 4-inch diameter holes
that are 50 feet in depth. Water from these wells is apparently not
being sampled. It is also noteworthy that two private water wells are
located across a county road immediately east of the wastewater treatment
ponds. These wells are reported to be 25 feet deep well-points, and
they have not been reported to be contaminated by seepage from the ponds.
In addition, a private well is located at the southwest corner of section
26 adjacent to the wastewater treatment ponds and another private well
is located across the county road north of the northwest corner of the
ponds. These later two wells have also not been reported to have been
contami nated.
-------
REFERENCES CITED
Alford, D. (1973): Geology and hydrology of Hebgen Lake Estates, Gallatin
County, Montana; Report to Survco, Inc.
Davis, J. C. (1973): Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology; John Wiley
and Sons, Inc.
Grimestad, G. R. (1977): A geo-hydrologic evaluation of an infiltrative
disposal system for Kraft process pulp and paper mill liquid effluents;
PhD Thesis, University of Montana.
Hem J. D. (1970): Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics
of natural water; U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1473,
second edition.
H. K. M. Associates (1977): Water quality study for Middle Yellowstone
Areawide Wastewater Management Program; Report to Mid-Yellowstone
Planning Organization.
Nelson, Emery (1979): Personal communication.
Peavy, H. S. (1978): Ground water pollution from septic tank drainfields;
Report to The Blue Ribbons of the Big Sky Country Areawide Planning
Organi zation.
Silka, L. R. and T. L. Swearingen (1978): A manual for evaluating contam-
ination potential of surface impoundments; U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency Report EPA 570/9-78-003.
84
-------
85
U. S. Geological Survey and Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (1963):
Mineral and water resources of Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and
Geology Special Publication 28.
Wilke, K. R. and D. L. Coffin (1973): Appraisal of the quality of ground
water in the Helena Valley, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Report
No. WRD-73-020.
-------
APPENDIX I
GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION POTENTIAL
RATING TABLES
-------
TABLE 1-1. Step 1, rating of the unsaturated zone.
>-
CeT
O
Earth Material
Category
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
15% but
<50% Clay
Clay with
<50% Sand
Clay
~—4
S
UJ
LlJ
CD
a:
o
u_
t/">
Consolidated
Rock
Cavernous or
Fractured
Limestone,
Evapori tes,
Basalt Lava
Fault Zones
Fractured
Igneous and
Metamorphi c
(Except Lava)
Sandstone
(Poorly
Cemented)
Sandstone
(Moderately
Cemented)
Fractured
Shale
Sandstone
(Well
Cemented)
Si 1tstone
Unfractured
ShaIe,
Igneous and
Metamorphi c
Rocks
UJ
1
UJ
n>
Representati ve
Permeabi1i ty
1—*
ZD
CD
in gpd/ft2
>200
2 - 200
0.2 - 2
<0.2
<0.02
<0.002
in cm/sec
>10"2
lO"4 - lO'2
10"5 - io-4
<10"5
<10-6
<10"7
RATING MATRIX
3 >3°
9A
6B
4C
2D
0E
OF
¥ c >10130
4-> O
r^j
O "o >3<10
QJ
9B
7B
5C
3D
IE
0G
9C
8B
6C
4D
2E
OH
1/1 10 -.1
CD i_ ^ >113
C 3 t/1
-l-> t-
U (O >01
x: c 0)
h- s;
9D
9E
9F
9G
7C
9H
5D
91
3E
9.1
IF
9K
-------
88
TABLE 1-2. Step 2, rating of the ground water availability.
>-
a:
Earth
Materi al
Category
I
11
III
LJ
O
LU
h-
c
O
o
"Z.
Unconsolidated
Rock
Gravel or Sand
Sand with £50%
Clay
Clay with <50%
Sand
"Z.
»—»
a:
UJ
i—
LU
O
cc
o
LO-
Consoli dated
Rock
Cavernous or
Fractured Rock,
Poorly Cemented
Sandstone,
Fault Zones
Moderately to
Well Cemented
Sandstone,
Fractured Shale
Siltstone,
Unfractured
Shale and other
Impervious Rock
GO
LlJ
2:
—j
Li_!
o
Representative
Permeabi1ity
ID
o
in gpd/ft2
>2
0.02 - 2
<0.02
in cm/sec
>io-h
10-6 _ 10-4
<10"6
RATING
MATRIX
Thickness >30
of Saturated
Zone 3-30
(Meters)
<3
6A
5A
3A
4C
3C
1C
2E
IE
OE
-------
TABLE 1-3. Step 3, rating the ground water quality.
Ratinq
Duality
5
<500 mg/1 TDS or a current drinking water
source
4
>500 - <1000 mg/1 TDS
3
>1000 - <3000 mg/1 TDS
2
>3000 - <10,000 mg/1 TDS
1
>10,000 mg/1 TDS
0
No ground water present
-------
90
TABLE 1-4. Step 6, rating the potential endangerment to a water supply.
Case A
Case B -
Highest Priority:
1600 meters of the
direction of waste
Rate the closest water well within
site that is in the anticipated
plume movement.
Case C
Case D
Second Priority: If there is no well satisfying Case A,
rate the closest surface water within 1600 meters of the
site that is in the anticipated direction of the waste
plume movement.
Third Priority: If no surface water or water well
satisfying Case A or B exists, rate the closest water
supply well or surface water supply within 1600 meters
of the site that is not in the anticipated direction of
waste plume movement.
Lowest Priority: If there are no surface waters or water
wells within 1600 meters of the site in any direction,
rate the site as "OD."
Select the appropriate rating for the given distance and case:
Di stance
(Meters)
Case A
Case B
Case C
Case D
-200
9A
8B
7C
-
>200,<400
7A
6B
5C
-
>400,<800
5A
4B
3C
-
>800,<1600
3A
2B
1C
-
>1600
on
-------
APPENDIX II
SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON WATER TABLE AQUIFERS
Alden, W. C. (1932): Physiography and glacial geology of eastern Montana
and adjacent areas; U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 174.
Alden, W. C. (1953): Physiography and glacial geology of western Montana
and adjacent areas; U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 231.
Alden, W. C. and E. Stebinger (1913): Pre-Wisconsin glacial drift in the
region of Glacier National Park; Geological Society of America Bulletin,
Vol. 24, p. 529-572.
Andrews, D. A., W. G. Pierce and D. H. Eargle (1947): Geologic map of the
Big Horn Basin, Wyoming and Montana, showing terrace deposits and
physiographic features; U. S. Geological Survey Oil and Gas Investigation
Preliminary Map 71.
Becraft, G. E. and D. M. Pinckney (1961): Preliminary geologic map of the
northwest quarter of the Boulder Quadrangle, Montana; U. S. Geological
Survey Mineral Investigations Field Studies Map MF-183.
Becraft, G. E., D. M. Pinckney and S. Rosenblum (1963): Geology and
mineral deposits of the Jefferson City Quadrangle, Jefferson and Lewis
and Clark Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper
428.
Bergantino, R. N. (1977): Forsyth geology sheet; Montana Geologic Atlas,
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.
Boettcher, A. J. and A. W. Gosling (1977): Water resources of the Clark
Fork Basin upstream from St. Regis, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines
and Geology Bulletin 104.
Boettcher, A. J. and K. R. Wilke (1978): Ground-water resources in the
Libby area, northwestern Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Bulletin 106.
Botz, M. K. (1969): Hydrogeology of the upper Silver Bow Creek drainage
area, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 75.
Bowen, C. F. (1919): Anticlines in a part of the Musselshell Valley,
Musselshell, Meagher, and Sweetgrass Counties; U. S. Geological
Survey Bulletin 691, p. 185-209.
91
-------
92
Breitkrietz, A. (1964): Basic water data report No. 1, Missoula Valley,
Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 37.
Breitkrietz, A. (1966): Basic water data report No. 3, Kalispell Valley
Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 53.
Calhoun, F. H. H. (1906): Montana lobe of the Keewatin ice sheet; U. S.
Geological Survey Professional Paper 50.
Campbell, A. B. (1960): Geology and mineral deposits of the St. Regis-
Superior area, Mineral County, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey
Bulletin 1082-1, P. 545-612.
Coffin, D. L., A. Breitkrietz and R. G. McMurtrey (1971): Surficial
geology and water resources of the Tobacco and upper Stillwater
River Valleys, northwestern Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and
Geology Bulletin 81.
Collier, A. J. and M. M. Knechtel (1939): Coal resources of McCone County,
Montana; U. So Geological Survey Bulletin 905„
Colton, R. B. (1955): Geology of the Wolf Point Quadrangle, Montana; U. S.
Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-67.
Colton, R. B. (1963): Geologic map of the Chelsea Quadrangle, Roosevelt
and McCone Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous
Geologic Investigations Map 1-363.
Colton, R. B. (1963): Geologic map of the Cuskers Quadrangle, Roosevelt
County, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic
Investigations Map 1-364.
Colton, R. B. (1963): Geologic map of the Hay Creek Quadrangle, Roosevelt
County, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic
Investigations Map 1-365.
Colton R. B. (1963): Geologic map of the Poplar Quadrangle, Roosevelt
Richland, and McCone Counties, Montana; U0 S. Geological Survey
Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map 1-367.
Colton, R. B. (1963): Geologic map of the Porcupine Valley Quadrangle,
Valley County, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic
Investigations Map I-368„
Colton, R. B. (1964): Aggregate and riprap resources map of the Wolf Point
area, Valley, Roosevelt, and Daniels Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological
Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map 1-429.
Colton, R. B. and A. F. Bateman (1956): Geologic and structure contour
map of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and vicinity, Montana; U. S.
Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map 1-225.
Colton, R. B., W. Lemke and R. M. Lindvall (1961): Glacial map of Montana
east of the Rocky Mountains; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous
Geologic Investigations Map 1-327.
-------
93
DeYoung, W. , (1932): Soil survey of the Milk River area, Montana; Soil
Survey Series No. 22, 1928, U. S. Department of Agriculture with
Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, Bozeman, Montana.
DeYoung, W., F. K. Nunns and L. H. Smith (1939): Soil survey, the lower
Yellowstone Valley area, Montana; U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Soil Survey Series No. 38, 1932.
Ellis, A. J. and 0. E. Meinzer (1924): Ground-water in Musselshell and
Golden Valley Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply
Paper 518.
Feltis, R. D. (1973): Geology and water resources of the eastern part of
the Judith Basin, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Bulletin 87.
Feltis, R. D. (1977): Geology and water resources of the northern part of
the Judith Basin, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Bui 1eti n 101.
Fisher, C. A. (1909): Geology and water resources of the Great Falls
region; U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 221.
Fox, R. D. (1966): Geology and ground-water resources of the Cascade-
Ulm area, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 52.
Grimstad, G. R. (1977): A geo-hydrologic evaluation of an infiltrative
disposal system for Kraft process pulp and paper mill effluents;
Ph.D. Thesis, University of Montana.
Groff, S. L. (1962): Reconnaissance ground-water studies, Wheatland,
eastern Meagher, and northern Sweet Grass Counties, Montana; Montana
Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 24.
Hall, G. M. and C. S. Howard (1929): Groundwater in Yellowstone and
Treasure Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply
Paper 599.
Hancock, E. T. (1920): Geology and oil and gas prospects of the Huntley
field; U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 711, p. 105-148.
Hopkins, W. B. and J. R. Tilstra (1966): Availability of ground water
from alluvium along the Missouri River in northeastern Montana; U. S.
Geological Survey Hydrologic Investigations Atals HA-224.
Johns, W. M. (1970): Geology and mineral deposits of Lincoln and Flathead
Counties, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 79.
Johnson, W. D. Jr. and H. R. Smith (1964): Geology of the Winnett-Mosby
area, Petroleum, Garfield, Rosebud, and Fergus Counties, Montana;
U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1149.
-------
94
Kappan, R. S. and G. F. Moulton (1931): Geology and mineral resources of
parts of Carbon, Big Horn, Yellowstone, and Stillwater Counties; U. S.
Geological Survey Bulletin 822, p. 1-70.
Kleinkopf, M. D., J. E. Harrison and R. E. Zartman (1972): Aeromagnetic
and geologic map of part of northwestern Montana and northern Idaho;
U. S. Geological Survey Geophysical Investigations Map GP-830.
Knopf, A. (1963): Geology of the northern part of the Boulder Bathylith
and adjacent area, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous
Geologic Investigations Map 1-381.
Konizeski, R. L., A. L. Brietkrietz and R. G. McMurtrey (1968): Geology
and ground water resources of the Kalispell Valley, northwestern
Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 68.
LaRocque, G. A., Jr. (1966): General availability of ground water and
depth of water level in the Missouri River Basin; U. S. Geological
Survey Hydrologic Inventory Atlas HA-217.
Lemke, R. W. (1977): Geologic map of the Great Falls Quadrangle; U. S.
Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1414.
Lemke, R. W. and E. K. Maughan (1977): Engineering geology of the city
of Great Falls and vicinity, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Map
1-1025.
Lorenz, H. W. and R. G. McMurtrey (1956): Geology and occurrence of ground
water in the Townsend Valley, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Water
Supply Paper 1360-C, p. 171-290.
Lorenz, H. W. and F. A. Swenson (1951): Geology and ground-water resources
of the Helena Valley, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Circular 83.
Lowell, W. R. (1965): Geologic map of the Bannack-Grayling area, Beaverhead
County, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic
Investigations Map 1-433.
Mancini, A. J. (1968): Water resources survey, Valley County, groundwater;
Montana Water Resources Board, p. 30-39.
Mancini, A. J. (1969): Water resources survey, Mineral and Sanders Counties,
groundwater; Montana Water Resources Board, p. 20-24 and 31-34.
Maughan, E. K. (1961): Geology of the Vaughan Quadrangle, Montana; U. S.
Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-135.
Meinzer, 0. E. (1914): The water resources of Butte, Montana; U. S.
Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 345-G.
Miller, M. R., et al (1977): Compilation of hydrogeological data for
southeastern Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology MBMG-26
(HY77-1).
-------
95
Miller, M. R., et al (1977): Well appropriation data for southeastern
Montana--Big Horn, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud,
and Treasure Counties; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geoloqy MBMG-27
(HY77-2).
Miller, R. N. (1959): Geology of the South Moccasin Mountains, Fergus
County, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, Memoir 37.
Moulder, E. A., M. F. Klug, D. A. Morris and F. A. Swenson (1960): Geology
and ground-water resources of the lower Little Bighorn River Valley,
Big Horn County, Montana; U. S. Geoloaical Survey Water Supply Paper
1487.
McMurtrey, R. G., R. L. Konezeski and A. Brietkrietz (1965): Geology and
ground-water resources of the Missoula Basin, Montana; Montana Bureau
of Mines and Geology Bulletin 47.
McMurtrey, R. G., R. L. Konizeski, M. V. Johnson and J. H. Bartells (1972):
Geology and water resources of the Bitterroot Valley, southwestern
Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1889.
Nelson, W. H. and J. P. Dobell (1961): Geology of the Bonner Quadrangle,
Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1111-F, p. 189-235.
Nobles, L. H. (9152): Glacial geology of the Mission Valley, western
Montana; Ph.D. Thesis, Harvard University.
Pardee, J. T. (9125): Geology and water resources of the Townsend Valley;
U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 539.
Parker, F. S. ( 1936): Richey-Lainbert coal field, Richland and Dawson
Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 847, p. 121-174.
Perry, E. S. (1931): Ground water in eastern and central Montana; Montana
Bureau of Mines and Geology Memoir 2.
Perry, E. S. (1932): Ground-water resources of Judith Basin, Montana;
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Memoir 7.
Reeves, F. (1925): Geology and possible oil and gas resources of the
faulted area south of the Bearpaw Mountains; U. S. Geological Survey
Bulletin 751, p. 71-114.
Reeves, F. (1927): Geology of the Cat Creek and Devils Basin oil fields
and adjacent areas in Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 786,
p. 39-98.
Reeves, F. (1931): Geology of the Big Snowy Mountians; U. S. Geological
Survey Professional Paper 165, p. 135-149.
Roberts, A. E. (1964): Geologic map of the Chimmey Rock Quadrangle, Montana;
U. S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-257.
-------
96
Roberts, A. E. (1964): Geology of the Brisbin Quadrangle, Montana; U. S.
Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-256.
Roberts, A. E. (1964): Geologic map of the Maxey Ridge Quadrangle, Montana;
U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map
1-396.
Robinson, G. D. (1967): Geologic map of the Toston Quadrangle, southwestern
Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations
Map 1-486.
Ross, C. P., D. A. Andrews and I. J. Witkind (1955): Geologic map of
Montana; U. S. Geological Survey.
Ruppel, E. T. (1963): Geology of the Basin Quadrangle, Jefferson, Lewis
and Clark, and Powell Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey
Bulletin 1151.
Silverman, A. J. and W. L. Harris (1967): Stratigraphy and economic
geology of the Great Fal1s-Lewistown coal field, central Montana;
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 56.
Smedes, H. W. (1962): Preliminary geologic map of the northern Elkhorn
Mountains, Jefferson and Broadwater Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological
Survey Mineral Investigations Field Studies Map MF-243.
Stebinger, E. (1912): Sidney lignite field, Dawson County, Montana; U. S.
Geological Survey Bulletin 471, p. 284-318.
Stebinger, E. (1916): Geology and coal resources of northern Teton County,
Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 621, p. 117-156.
Swenson, F. A. (1955): Geology and ground-water resources of the Missouri
River Valley in northeastern Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Water
Supply Paper 1263.
Torrey, A. E. and F. A. Swenson (1951): Ground-water resources of the
lower Yellowstone River Valley between Miles City and Glendive, Montana;
U. S. Geological Survey Circular 93, 72 p.
Torrey, A. E. and F. A. Kohout (1956): Geology and ground-water resources
of the lower Yellowstone River Valley between Glendive and Sidney,
Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1355.
Van Lewen, M. C. and N. J. King (1971): Prospects for developing stock-
water supplies from wells in northeastern Garfield County, Montana;
U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1999-F.
Vine, J. D. (1956): Geology of the Stanford-Hobson area, central Montana;
U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1027-J.
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97
Vine, J. D. and W. D. Johnson (1954): Geology of the Stanford area,
Judith Basin and Fergus Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey
Oil and Gas Investigations Map OM-139.
Wallace, G. A., M. R. Klepper and A. B. French (1978): Preliminary re-
connaissance geologic maps of the Garnet Range, western Montana;
U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-418.
Weed, W. H. (1893): The glaciation of the Yellowstone Valley north of the
park; U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 104.
Weeks, R. A. (1974): Geologic map of the Bull Mountain area, Jefferson
County, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 74-354.
Wells, J. D. (1974): Geologic map of the Alberton Quadrangle, Missoula,
Sanders, and Mineral Counties, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey
Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1157.
Wheeler, R. J. (1974): Water resource and hazard planning for the Clark
Fork Valley above Missoula, Missoula County, Montana; Montana University
Joint Water Resources Research Center Report No. 51.
Wilke, K. R. and D. L. Coffin (1973): Appraisal of the quality of ground
water in the Helena Valley, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey Water
Resources Investigations 32-73, NTIS PB-224 563.
Wilke, K. R. and M. V. Johnson (1978): Maps showing depth to water table,
September 1976, and area inundated by the June 1975 flood, Helena
Valley, Lewis and Clark County, Montana; U. S. Geological Survey
Open-File Map 78-110.
Wilson, C. W. (1938): Revision of the stratigraphy of Dry Creek and Golden
Structures, Carbon County, Montana; AAPG Bulletin, V.22, pt. 1,
p. 106-108.
Woolsey, L. H., R. W. Richards and C. T. Lupton (1917): Bull Mountain
coal field, Musselshell and Yellowstone Counties; U. S. Geological
Survey Bulletin 647.
Zimmerman, E. A. (1956): Preliminary report on the geology and ground-
water resources of parts of Musselshell and Golden Valley Counties,
Montana; Montana Buruea of Mines and Geology Information Circular 15.
Zimmerman, E. A. (1962): Preliminary report on the geology and ground-
water resources of the southern Judith Basin, Montana; Montana Bureau
of Mines and Geology Bulletin 32.
Zimmerman, E. A. (1966): Geology and ground-water resources of western and
southern parts of Judith Basin, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and
Geology Bulletin 50-A.
Zimmerman, E. A. (1967): Water resources of the Cut Bank area, Glacier and
Toole Counties, Montana; Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 60.
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APPENDIX III
RESUMES
DARREL E. DUNN, CONSULTING HYDROGEOLOGIST
EXPERIENCE:
1974 to present: Earth Science Services, Inc. Consultant in hydrology
and geology.
1971 to 1974: University of Toledo, Ohio. Associate Professor of
Geology. Taught courses titled Ground Water Hydrology, Quantitative
Ground Water Hydrology I & II, Ground Water Systems, Geohydrology
of Drainage Basins, Geohydrologic Measurements, Geomorphology,
Physical Geology, and Geology and Human Affairs.
1967 to 1971: Montana State Universtiy, Bozeman, Montana. Assistant
Professor of Geology. Taught courses titled Ground Water Hydrology,
Advanced Hydrogeology, and Historical Geology. Worked on research
projects related to computer simulation of the hydrologic system
of mountain watersheds.
1966 to 1967: Alberta Research Council, Groundwater Division, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. Groundwater Geologist. Worked on "Hydrogeology of
the Stettler Area, Alberta, Canada."
1962 to 1966: University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. Assistant
Instructor and Research Assistant. Taught laboratory sections of
Historical Geology and worked on research related to flow of ground
water to streams.
1957 to 1962: Pure Oil Company, Rocky Mountain Division.
1955 to 1957: United States Army, 1st Armored Division. Radio Operator.
1955 "(Tune to October): Pure Oil Company, Olney, Illinois. Well-site
geology.
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., University
Geology.
B.Sc. , University
Geology.
PUBLICATIONS:
Dunn, D. E. (1967): Hydrogeology of the Stettler Area, Alberta,
Canada; Ph.D. Thesis, University of Illinois.
(1970): An Experiment in Finite Difference Watershed Modeling;
Montana Joint Water Resources Research Center Report Mo. 13, 50 p.
(1970): Ground Water Velocity Partition; Ground Water, Vol. 8,
No. 6, p. 14.
(1970): Probability of Anomalies on Contour Maps; Ground Water,
Vol. 8, No. 6, p. 33-38,
(1971): An Experiment in Deterministic Watershed Modeling; Water
Resources Bulletin, Vol„ 7, p. 343-347.
(1971): HYDROSIM--Computerized Graphical Stream Hydrograph
Simulation; Montana Joint Water Resources Research Center Report
No. 22, 26 p.
of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. 1967. Majored in
of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. 1955. Majored in
98
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99
PUBLICATIONS: (continued)
Dunn, D. E. (1975): Siting Energy Facilities at Glasgow Air Force
Base, Vol. 1, Section IV, Hydrology; Federal Energy Administration,
FEA/G-75/419, p. 127-185.
(1978): Ground Water Levels and Ground Water Chemistry, Gallatin
Valley, Montana, 1977; Blue Ribbons Areawide Planning Organization,
Bozeman, Montana.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
American Water Resources Association.
National Water Well Association,,
Geological Society of America.
Montana Geological Society.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
FREDERICK C. SHEWMAN, SANITARY ENGINEER-HYDROGEOLOGIST
EXPERIENCE:
1977 to present: Montana Water Quality Bureau, Sanitary Engineer IV,
KyHrogeologist, groundwater protection program, technical studies.
1973 to 1977: Webster, Foster and Weston Consulting Engineers (Civil),
managed Minot, North Dakota, branch office (7-14 employees).
1971 to 1973: North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota,
Assistant Professor Civil Engineering, taught Sewerage, Water Supply,
Water Resources-Hydrology-Hydrauli cs.
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Utah State University. 1971. Civil Engineering (Water Quality
Management).
M.S.C.E., Purdue University. 1966. Engineering Geology.
B.S., Purdue University. 1964. Civil Engineering.
REGISTRATION: Registered Professional Engineer (1973-Present)
North Dakota
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