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Pinon Ridge Mining LLC <br /> 31161 Highway 90, PO Box 825 <br /> Nucla, Colorado 81424 RECEIVED <br /> August 23, 2020 AUG 2 8 2020 <br /> Mr. Lucas West, Environmental Protection Specialist DIVISION OF RECLAMATION <br /> Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety MINING AND SAFETY <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br /> Denver, CO 80203 <br /> Re: Sunday Mine Complex Notice of Temporary Cessation, Sunday Mine (Permit M- <br /> 1977-285), Carnation Mine (Permit M-1977-416), St. Jude Mine (Permit M-1978- <br /> 039HR), West Sunday Mine (Permit M-1981-021), and Topaz Mine (M-1981-021) <br /> Dear Mr. West: <br /> Pinon Ridge Mining LLC (PRM) is providing Notice of Temporary Cessation for the five <br /> mines referenced above that form the Sunday Mine Complex (SMC) in accordance with <br /> Rule 1.13.5 (1) (a) of Colorado's Mineral Rules and Regulations for Hard Rock, Metal, <br /> and Designated Mining Operations. The SMC was last operating during January and <br /> February of 2020 when three ore stockpile pads were built in accordance with the <br /> approved Environmental Protection Plan for the complex. This work was completed on <br /> February 25, 2020 and 180 days have elapsed since that time. Although there have <br /> been personnel on site periodically since that time, their activities have been limited to <br /> site inspections and maintenance. Under Rules 1.13.2 (1), (3), (5) and (7), PRM <br /> considers the SMC to have entered temporary cessation as of February 26, 2020. <br /> SMC had hoped to restart mine development of the SMC prior to the end of the 180-day <br /> window; however, the direct and indirect impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have <br /> prevented that from happening for the following reasons. <br /> 1. The pandemic has not abated in this country during the summer months, as had <br /> been hoped. Underground mining requires that miners work in close proximity to <br /> each other and hiring miners from different areas of the state could result in the <br /> entire crew being infected with the virus. PRM doesn't wish to take on that risk and <br /> potential liability at this time. <br /> 2. The pandemic has shuttered or reduced production at many industrial facilities, <br /> which reduces demand for raw metals. Uranium and vanadium prices have fared <br /> better than some metals, but their price still remains below the threshold for the <br /> economic shipment and processing of SMC's resources <br /> 3. The pandemic has resulted in the federal government having to significantly <br /> increase deficit spending to financially support medical and emergency response <br /> facilities, educational institutions, small businesses, unemployed citizens, and other <br /> sectors of our society. Although the pandemic has underlined the importance of the <br /> U.S.A. becoming more self-reliant in producing critical minerals, there may not be <br /> 1 <br />