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HOME, <br /> PITCH RECLAMATION PROJECT <br /> April 7, 2016 <br /> Mr. Dustin Czapla <br /> Environment Protection Specialist <br /> Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br /> 101 South 3rd, Suite 301 <br /> Grand Junction, Colorado 81501 <br /> Phone: (970) 243-6299 <br /> dustin.czapla@state.co.us <br /> RE: 2016 Field Activities to Support Establishment of the Lowest Practical Level <br /> for Uranium, Pitch Reclamation Project, Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety Reclamation Permit Number M-1977-004 <br /> Dear Mr. Czapla: <br /> Homestake Mining Company of California (Homestake) is continuing to advance the <br /> evaluation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be implemented at the Pitch <br /> Reclamation Project (Figure 1) to reduce uranium load to the Colorado Discharge Permit <br /> System (CDPS) permit (No. C00022756) compliance point Outfall 001A (also known as <br /> SW-33) and establish the Lowest Practical Level (LPL) for uranium. Pilot testing in 2015 <br /> involving the injection of a mixture of phosphate and non-reactive tracer into the historical <br /> Pinnacle underground mine workings (Phase 1)was successful at treating uranium within <br /> the underground mine workings by precipitation as low-solubility phosphate-based <br /> minerals. Phosphate and non-reactive tracer injections were completed using existing <br /> and recently completed piezometers as approved by the technical revision (TR-6) to the <br /> Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety(DRMS) reclamation permit(No. M- <br /> 1977-004). <br /> Building on the success of the 2015 pilot test, the following Phase 2 field activities are <br /> planned for 2016 to advance the BMP evaluation and design: <br /> • Scaled-up phosphate-based injections into the underground mine workings. <br /> • Initial pilot testing of phosphate-based injections to treat and control uranium <br /> exiting the Indian Rock Dump. <br /> • An evaluation of engineered treatment cells (ETCs) to achieve uranium load <br /> reduction while the source control strategies are being implemented. The cells, if <br /> 460 West 5o North,Suite sop,Salt Lake City,Utah 84101 TEL:(801)990-3547 <br />