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RECEIVED <br /> HOMESTAKE September 26, 2019 <br /> b OCT o 1 2019 <br /> \-�r. Dustin Czapla OWL"OF RECLAMATION <br /> Environmental Protection Specialist MININGAND WETY <br /> Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br /> 1313 Sherman Street Room 215 <br /> Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> Re: Homestake Mining Company's Response to Comment Letter Received by DRMS; <br /> Amendment Application for the Pitch Project, Permit No. M-1977-004 <br /> Dear Mr. Czapla: <br /> Your letter dated September 13, 2019 requests Homestake Mining Company's <br /> (Homestake) response in this letter. This response is to a letter to the Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety (DRMS) dated September 11, 2019, sent by the Information Network for <br /> Responsible Mining (INFORM), and signed by Ms. Jennifer Thurston. INFORM's letter <br /> comments upon Homestake's application to amend its reclamation plan under Homestake's <br /> permit for its Pitch Project in Saguache County, Colorado, Permit No. M-1977-004. <br /> Homestake application to amend its reclamation plan was submitted at DRMS's request. <br /> At the time of the DRMS requested this amendment, Homestake's reclamation plan for the Pitch <br /> Project had been unmodified since 1984. DRMS asked Homestake's to amend its reclamation <br /> plan to reflect the current configuration of the Pitch Project mine as well as Homestake's current <br /> reclamation plans. <br /> INFORM comments that the permitted area for the Pitch Project should not be expanded <br /> by approximately 91 acres. This request by INFORM to deny the expansion of the Pitch Project <br /> permitted area should not be granted. As DRMS is aware, mine impacts in the form of tension <br /> cracks have been discovered at the Pitch Project mine site that are outside Homestake's <br /> permitted area boundary. Homestake requested the permit boundary change to include these <br /> impacts within Homestake's permitted area, which would facilitate monitoring and reclamation <br /> activities by Homestake. <br /> INFORM is next concerned that Homestake's future approaches to protect water quality <br /> will not be subject to public review. To the contrary, Homestake anticipates that its strategies to <br /> address water quality at the Pitch Project would be approved in the future by DRMS and by the <br /> Water Quality Control Division within the Colorado Department of Public Health and <br /> Environment. Homestake anticipates that these water quality approaches will be subject to public <br /> notice and an invitation to the public to participate in those processes. <br /> INFORM suggests that timelines in DRMS rules will not be met by Homestake's <br /> reclamation plan. This suggestion is incorrect. Homestake's amended environmental protection <br /> plan meets all timelines and deadlines in DRMS rules. <br /> In response to INFORM's discussion, Homestake confirms that it meets the requirements <br /> of its separate water quality permit that authorizes discharges from the Pitch Project mine. <br />