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BEFORE THE MINED LAND RECLAMATION BOARD <br /> STATE OF COLORADO <br /> Notice of Violation No. PV-2025-02 <br /> FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND ORDER <br /> IN THE MATTER OF A POSSIBLE VIOLATION BY SMUGGLER GOLD MINE, <br /> LLC; CIVIL PENALTIES; CORRECTIVE ACTION; REVOCATION OF NOTICE <br /> OF INTENT TO CONDUCT PROSPECTING OPERATIONS; AND FINDING <br /> THE FINANCIAL WARRANTY TO BE SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE; File No. P- <br /> 2012-011 <br /> THIS MATTER came before the Mined Land Reclamation Board ("Board") on <br /> August 20, 2025, for a hearing to consider revocation of Notice of Intent to Conduct <br /> Prospecting Operations number P-2012-011 ("NOI"), held by Smuggler Gold Mine, <br /> LLC ("Prospector"); civil penalties; corrective actions; and finding the financial <br /> warranty to be subject to forfeiture for Prospector's failure to post additional financial <br /> warranty within 60 days of the date of the notice of adjustment. Leigh Simmons and <br /> First Assistant Attorney General Jeff Fugate appeared on behalf of the Division of <br /> Reclamation, Mining and Safety ("Division"). Shannon Murphy appeared on behalf <br /> of Prospector. <br /> The Board, having considered the presentation and having been otherwise <br /> fully informed of the facts, hereby enters the following findings of fact, conclusions <br /> of law, and order. <br /> FINDINGS OF FACT <br /> 1. Prospector holds Notice of Intent to Conduct Prospecting Operations <br /> number P-2012-011 ("NOI"). Located in Section 11, Township 2 South, Range 73 <br /> West, 6th P.M. in Gilpin County, the site is a 2-acre gold and silver prospecting site <br /> known as Smuggler Gold Mine. <br /> 2. The Division holds a financial warranty for the site in the amount of <br /> $17,200. <br /> 3. On October 31, 2024, the Division conducted an inspection of the site, <br /> citing several issues, including that the current financial warranty of$17,200 is <br /> insufficient to reclaim the site after recalculating the financial warranty for current <br /> costs. The inspection report, sent to Operator on November 8, 2024, calculated the cost <br /> of reclamation at $35,189. <br />