DRMS Comment Objection Intake - DEV 3/28/2024 (6)

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Email Address * Enter a valid email address in this field to receive a confirmation e-mail. vmgoins@gmail.com Your Phone Number* Used only to follow up. 414-308-40 Extension Alternate Phone Number Used only to follow up. Alternate Phone Extension Connection to Operation Select all that apply Land Owner of affected land Structure Owner within 200' of affected land Mineral Owner Nearby Resident Adjacent Land Owner ✓ Concerned Citizen Government Agency Other DESCRIPTION OF COMMENT OR OBJECTION You are providing a comment or objection to the public record of a permitting action currently under review by the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. This form is not intended for reporting of possible violations or illegal activity. Please be as specific as possible. Comment/Objection Narrative * Over the past several decades, countless hours of work and millions of dollars have been spent on repairing the devastating impacts of historic mining in Lake County on the Upper Arkansas River and its tributaries, particularly in the California Gulch watershed where the Leadville Mill and much of the targeted waste is located. As a result, the Upper Arkansas is now the longest continuous stretch of Gold Medal water in the nation. I would ask DRMS to consider if the risks of this project to the Leadville community and the surrounding environment are worth the benefits. Of particular note, we would ask DRMS to carefully consider the following: Does the CJK proposal adequately identify groundwater depth throughout the site or the preferential flow pathways/rates? In the instance of a spill, it would be necessary to have groundwater defined. Groundwater mapping would also play into a remediation plan in the instance of a spill. Those pathways must be identified and mitigated during an emergency to reduce impacts on drinking water supplies including wells in the area. Has CJK properly addressed concerns around the daily operations of the mill, such as mitigating impacts to wildlife and exposure to materials with elevated sodium -cyanide? This can include both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife/organisms. Has CJK properly addressed the disposal of processed waste throughout the life of the mine? Where will processed waste be disposed of or remediated to reduce impacts on human health and the environment? Does the life cycle of the proposed disposal plan fully mitigate the risks of its location in a highly sensitive environment? Does the CJK proposal address the risks to the community and the environment of disturbing the east side waste piles? The potential for release of toxic materials into the air, surface water, and groundwater must be addressed both during and after excavation. These waste piles have stabilized over time and disturbing them will increase the potential for erosion of freshly exposed surfaces by wind and water.