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AA <br /> MineWater <br /> toe of the berm. At the conclusion of the drilling activities the topsoil berm will be amended <br /> with compost at a maintenance dosage of 30 CY per acre, the amended topsoil spread back <br /> over the area, and the contour matched to the surrounding area. The surface will be <br /> roughened, seed applied, and mulch crimped into the surface. <br /> 8. Please clarify if the proposed drill holes will penetrate the workings of the London Mine or <br /> otherwise describe how the drilling project is related to the hydrologic investigation. <br /> The drill holes will not penetrate the workings of the London Mine. The drill holes will rather <br /> penetrate the London synclinal axis to the southwest of the workings. The London Syncline <br /> contains trapped water which is prevented from tributary flow by the clayey alteration of the <br /> London Fault. The cores and other drilling observations will provide information for the <br /> location of cross faults and veins that act to direct groundwater toward the London Fault and <br /> inform as to the level of groundwater in the area within the Syncline. If there is observed <br /> hydrostatic head on the Belden Shale pursuant to the drilling program this will be very <br /> critical information for improving future water quality as it would indicate that further <br /> dewatering of the synclinal axis (as permitted in the Water Decree 8314-76) could prevent or <br /> reduce upwel ling of groundwater into potentially acid-generating mineralization in the veins <br /> within the porphyry. <br /> The long-term solution for the metals leaching problem at the London Mine is the fiill and <br /> sustainable implementation of the in-situ detoxification program that was approved by US <br /> EPA in 2014 in the UIC-Permitted Rule Authorization. To implement this program requires <br /> that we have the option of treating mine drainage in the London Butte workings. We cannot <br /> Plumb the London Water Tunnel into the Butte workings without better understanding the <br /> geology and hydrology of the area between the London Butte and the London Water Tunnel. <br /> This is the area where our drilling program will be focused. <br /> 9. The Applicant has acknowledged one of the efforts of the prospecting project is to bring the <br /> water discharge from the London Mine into compliance with applicable water quality <br /> standards. Pursuant to Rule 3.1.6, the Applicant must describe how the prospecting operation <br /> will remain in compliance with applicable federal and Colorado water quality laws and <br /> regulations, including statewide water quality standards and site-specific classifications and <br /> standards adopted by the Water Quality Control Commission. <br /> The London Mine is presently in violation of its discharge permit. We are conducting <br /> prospecting for the purpose of design and for engineering a proposal for subsequently <br /> modifying the workings of the London Mine to better direct clean water away from acid- <br /> generating areas of the mineralization. The result of this effort will be a plan to extract the <br /> non-tributary decreed water from the Mine in compliance with the Permitted discharge limits. <br /> The acid water, once it is separated from the larger volume of cleaner water,will be directed <br /> within the Mine workings pursuant to an EPA UIC permit granted in May 2014 into the 2380 <br /> decline mine pool or to the London Butte mine pool and treated therein using in-situ <br /> treatment methods to immobilize heavy metals within the workings. <br />