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COLORADO <br /> a Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> July 17, 2024 <br /> Johan Van Huyssteen <br /> Cripple Creek &Victor Gold Mining Company <br /> P.O. Box 191 <br /> Victor, CO 80860 <br /> Re: Reason to Believe a Violation Exists and Notice of Board Hearing; <br /> Cresson Project; 112d-3 Hard Rock Reclamation Permit No. M-1980-244 <br /> Johan Van Huyssteen: <br /> During a routine inspection of the Cresson Project on June 15, 2017, Division staff noted the presence <br /> of seep water at the toe of the East Cresson Overburden Storage Area (ECOSA). A review of aerial <br /> imagery indicated the seep was present as early as March 2017. In the November 2017 inspection <br /> report, the Division clearly stated the need for a Technical Revision to monitor the impacts of seepage <br /> to the surrounding environment. Analytical results from the sampling of the seep water showed there <br /> were several analytes exceeding Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) Regulation 41—The Basic <br /> Standards of Groundwater Table Value Standards (TVS) and Numeric Protection Limits (NPLs) for the <br /> site. <br /> The ECOSA was originally permitted in Amendment 9 (AM9). The facility is unlined and was designed <br /> to allow precipitation to infiltrate into and through the facility into the underlying diatreme. However, <br /> despite the drainage design related to the diatreme, it is undisputed that seeps have developed along <br /> the toe of the facility. <br /> On May 30, 2018, the Division approved Technical Revision 97 for the installation of a groundwater <br /> monitoring well on the south side of Grassy Valley, downgradient of the ECOSA seep location, and on <br /> the south side of the thalweg of Grassy Creek. The monitoring well (GVMW-25) was completed on <br /> August 1, 2018. <br /> Routine quarterly sampling of GVMW-25 began in the 4th quarter of 2018. Quarterly reports from the <br /> 4th quarter 2018 to the 2nd quarter 2021 showed no exceedances of either TVS or NPL standards, except <br /> for two exceedances reported for sulfate in August and September 2019. Beginning with samples <br /> collected from GVMW-25 as part of the 3rd quarter 2021 sampling event, TVS and NPL standards were <br /> exceeded for several analytes1. At that time, CC&V stated in the Third Quarter 2021 Groundwater <br /> Surface Water Monitoring Report, the exceedances were due to large precipitation events causing a <br /> flushing effect, which increased the ECOSA seep discharge volume and lead to another seep expressing <br /> approximately 1,000 feet north of the first seep. <br /> 1 Exceedances of standards included Beryllium,Cadmium, Fluoride, Manganese, pH,Sulfate and Zinc. <br /> OF LOCO <br /> ,UU1 E 62"'Ave, Denver CO 80216 1 P 303.866.3567, F 303.832.8106 1 https://drms.colorado.gov <br /> Jared S. Polis, Governor I Dan Gibbs, Executive Director I Michael A. Cunningham, Director I ti o <br /> *1876 <br />