2016-05-04_REVISION - M1985029 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mining after the 2003 amendment was approved has primarily focused on the undisturbed block of ground which was between the two pay channels. This area has been mined and mostly reclaimed with many areas already seeded. A complete update to the status of these lands will be submitted later this year once a complete topographic survey has been completed. The small triangular wedges between the hydraulicked eastern pay channel and the Gumaer placer have been more recently mined starting in 2010. These areas were some of the highest grade mined in recent history. Anecdotally, the only mining that has occurred at the Gumaer also had high recoveries within its small pit. Based on this data, the current operator under took additional sampling at the site. This sampling supports the existence of the eastern pay channel. This data and some findings by MSHA require that the mining plan anticipated for the remaining southern area be realigned and phased. MSHA has required that larger surface areas be opened to allow for benches to be developed to minimize the height of the highwall. These changes do not modify the affected area of the permit; they are simply a realignment of the mine phasing to follow the eastern pay channel. Table 1 shows a comparison of the newly disturbed acres from the previous South Pit plan and the proposed South Pit Plan. The total area of 48.0 acres is from the"Combined Permit Area"table from the 2015 Amendment. The included South Pit Mine Phasing Plan Map shows both the proposed new phasing and the outer perimeter of the previous phasing. Table 1 Revised New Disturbance Areas Proposed Areas Previous Areas South Pit Mining Area 35.4 South Pit Mining Area 36.1 Final Triangle 0.7 Ridge Area 1 4.3 Ridge Area 1 4.3 Ridge Area 2 4.1 Ridge Area 2 4.1 West of Gumaer 1.7 West of Gumaer 1.7 Willits Ponds 1.8 Willits Ponds 1.8 Total 48.0 Total 48.0