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Cross Gold Mine <br />December 2024 D-2 <br /> <br /> <br />The Comstock Area consists of the Caribou 300 Portal, buildings for equipment and exploration core <br />storage, and associated stormwater control structures. Various pre-law waste dumps can also be found <br />in the Comstock Area. Both areas are identified on Maps C-1, C-2, and F-1. <br />4. Mine Openings <br /> <br />The Caribou 300 Level Portal is accessible via USFS Road 505. This portion of the site includes the <br />Caribou 300 Level Portal, a snowshed, surface equipment storage, and potentially minable pre-law <br />waste piles. As shown on the Exhibit C maps, it is located within the Comstock Area. If a suitable off- <br />site ore-sorting or milling facility becomes available in the future, these pre-law waste piles may be <br />mined. Any handling or processing of these waste piles will be outlined in a future technical revision, <br />once the processing destination has been determined. <br /> Current and Proposed Use <br />The Caribou 300 Level Portal has not been used since mining activities ended in the 1970s. Although a <br />snowshed with a locking gate exists, previous damage has allowed unauthorized entry and trespassing. <br />Currently, the Caribou 300 Portal is fully collapsed, preventing any personnel from accessing the <br />associated mine workings. Before operations can resume, an evaluation will be conducted to determine <br />how best to utilize this portal. At present, its proposed uses include providing ventilation and serving as <br />an emergency escapeway. <br />The portal will be reconstructed to ensure a secure, stable face into the hillside, incorporating concrete <br />and/or rock blocks secured by tiebacks. The existing snowshed will be removed as part of this process. <br />A steel portal door will be installed and anchored to the new concrete or stone face. The door will be <br />protected with padlocks and vandal-resistant covers, effectively preventing unauthorized entry while <br />future uses are assessed. <br />A perimeter fence, measuring approximately 75 feet by 190 feet, will enclose the portal area. This fence <br />will consist of a 6-foot chain-link barrier topped by 1 foot of barbed wire, creating a total height of 7 feet. <br />Each post will be secured with concrete footings set 2.5 feet deep, and top and bottom rails will provide <br />additional stability. Access will be controlled through a single 6-foot-wide locking gate topped with barbed <br />wire and secured by a padlock. Hazard and no-trespassing signage will be posted on three sides of the <br />fence, and boundary markers and signage will clearly delineate the Caribou 300 Level Portal permit <br />boundaries. <br />During active operations, the area will be monitored using the mine’s Wi-Fi video security system, <br />ensuring ongoing site security and safety. <br /> <br />The Potosi Shaft, accessible on foot from County Road 128, consists of the shaft itself and a <br />connecting access route. Located within the Operations Area, as shown on the Exhibit C maps, it is not <br />currently in use. At present, the shaft is secured only by a temporary fence with barbed wire and snow