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upper level crib set timbers.This resulted in removal and replacement of the upper 200 feet <br /> of shaft and station level-2 timber sets, causing unexpected employment of off-season mine <br /> crews working 12 hour daily shifts from November through mid April to complete needed <br /> repairs in order to safeguard shaft operations, all at great and unjustified cost to Mollie <br /> Kathleen. Luckily,the inversion of flows did not catch tour operations underground. <br /> These incidents with the Providence operation were one of the reasons why Mollie Kathleen <br /> and Anglo American entered into the existing, written agreement, intended to avert, and to <br /> resolve, some of these issues. However, the impact of the new expansion upon the <br /> operations is,at best,an unknown at this point. <br /> As noted, Dewey-Dwight has informed Newmont of these past acts of mine safety violations <br /> by Providence, and, while hosting a visit by Newmont employees, physically explained the <br /> situation underground during these events, to emphasize the physical danger to which <br /> members of the public were subjected during the incident and during evacuation. <br /> As these prior incidents resulted in the discharge of toxic blasting gases directly onto the <br /> mine tour level, with guests present, we felt that directly expressing our concerns would <br /> emphasize their importance to public safety. Newmont is certainly not responsible for the <br /> activities of a prior operator; from our standpoint, we simply cannot afford to have this <br /> experience repeated. <br /> The expansion of the Newmont operations will undoubtedly involve the use of substantial <br /> amounts of explosive, both during new underground construction, and, during mining <br /> operations. To an unknown extent, these vibrations will transmit into the Mollie Kathleen <br /> mine, both through the Gold King dike system, and, other underground routes of <br /> transmission. These vibrations have the potential to affect the stability of mine structures, <br /> and relief exposed shaft, stope and underground mine workings of the tour areas. Strong <br /> enough blasting vibrations could also impact display cases and other tour related structures <br /> and contents on the surface,which are quite extensive. <br /> Our primary focus is the integrity of our operations, and, above all the safety of our <br /> employees and thousands of annual visitors. These concerns will need to be evaluated both <br /> in the planning stages, and, during the development and mining process. Our concerns: <br /> airflow,ventilation and subsurface ground stability. <br /> Some of these concerns can be solved by proper buffering and a high degree of attention to <br /> interlocking ventilation systems. However, it has been many decades since this level of <br /> intense mining activity has taken place in close proximity to the Mollie Kathleen. <br /> Unfortunately, our own recent experience with limited activity on the adjacent properties <br /> was a bad one. <br /> Dewey-Dwight respects Newmont as being a very qualified world class underground mining <br /> company, with an experienced staff. We are at least hopeful that the concerns expressed <br /> here will not be ignored. <br /> While engineering an adequate subsurface ventilation system is very doable, all factors <br /> must be well defined and understood to develop a system needed to protect the lives of <br /> employees and visitors in the Mollie Kathleen. Dewey-Dwight is very confident Newmont <br /> can properly safeguard and protect the mine safety zone of the Mollie Kathleen Mine and its <br />