2016-03-30_PERMIT FILE - P2016006 (2)

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Silver Wing Mine NOl 7. Colorado Discharge permit System (WQCD); Degradation of Animas River No point source discharge permit exists for the Silver Wing Mine since it is an abandoned and inactive mine site. Jo Grants' proposed NOl activities do not themselves trigger Section 301 NPDES permitting requirements. Specifically, performing these particular activities does not involve or create or in any way necessitate the discharge of pollutants from a point source into any state water. The only discharge of water at the site—that from the existing mine portal—has been there for decades and will continue percolating as it has whether or not the proposed NOI activities are carried out. If the Silver Wing Mine proceeds to a production stage under a Mined Land Reclamation Permit, past and present water sampling results establishes the basis that an NPDES discharge permit will be required for the existing portal discharge unless it can be eliminated by source control methods or improved to meet receiving stream standards. Jo Grant Mining Company, Inc. is preparing an application to the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment for this purpose subject to determination if the need can be eliminated by improving water quality or elimination of the discharge;and,subject to the determination of the appropriate and best technology for treatment. If it is determined that a permit is required, upon approval of the permit, appropriate water treatment facilities must be in place and operable to avoid violations;therefore,Jo Grant plans to install and test appropriate water treatment facilities prior to the final approval of the discharge permit. The primary purpose of this NOI is to determine the options and best way to address a long term pre-existing problem that has probably been occurring for over 100 years. There is an existing Storm Water discharge permit and associated storm water management plan in place for the site—COR-040176. The permit is currently held by Silver Wing Company, Inc.,former owner of the Silver Wing mine, and will be transferred to Jo Grant Mining Company, Inc. The following activities will be executed under the NOl. Jo Grant Mining Company, Inc. will incorporate the following measures to minimize adverse impacts from these activities: • Investigate the sources of drainage and determine whether grouting or bulkheading is an option to reduce or stop the drainage. The primary impact from this activity will be stirring up sediments currently lying on the bottom of the adit drift between the portal and the furthest penetration of the existing workings. This sediment will be carried out of the portal to the existing sedimentation pond by the existing flow from the portal- approximately 20 gpm. (This is the same material that is currently in the sedimentation pond.) A filter will be incorporated at the discharge of the sedimentation pond to filter out fine sediments prior to discharge to the Animas River. • Collect an undisclosed quantity of samples. In this phase of the Project exploration program,Jo Grant plans to collect up to 250 channel samples from the sides, and back of existing underground workings. Each sample will be placed in sample bags at the point of sampling and will contain up to one pound of chipped rock material. Individual channel 1