PERMFILE53867

• Permit No: M1977004
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 8/31/1984
• Doc Name: Response to Adequacy
• From: Homestake
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

-17-
Item: Status of other reclamation sites (Hale Gulch microwave site, adits and shafts,
and "miscellaneous").
Res once:
Hale Gulch
No additional reclamation activities are anticipated. The USFS decided
that a contingent amount of surety be held in the event the work already
completed did not sustain plant life. Therefore Homestake included a
contingency in Exhibit L.
Microwave Site
Removal of structures followed by minor dressing of the road is planned
in accordance with the USFS request.
Adits and Shafts
While the specific locations of adits and procedures to be used to plug
or otherwise abandon, if and where necessary, have not been determined, past
submissions to the Division have discussed this in terms of water drainage
controls. The item was contained in Homestake's 1980 amendment. It is
Homestake's plan to consider safety and water pollution when designing
reclamation adits. Such reclamation is planned for "adits and shafts constructed
to provide access to underground mining activities" (see 1977 submission to the
Division, page 17). Site-specific evaluations and designs would be performed
when mining proceeds to the point that adits are encountered that may become
a hazard if reclamation is not conducted.
"Miscellaneous"
This refers to a contingency for minor areas of disturbance which are
difficult to identify at this stage, but which will be reclaimed in accord
with the objectives and procedures of the overall plan.
Item: Recommendation that the sediment dam be breached, rather than leave
the structure in place and utilize the spillway as a permanent stream course.
Response: Breaching of the sediment dam would essentially involve removal of
the entire structure. Homestake believes the sediment pond will serve as an
excellent source of water for wildlife and, as appropriate, domestic animals.
The dam and current spillway are designed for high hazard conditions. The
spillway revisions contemplated would further enhance the safety of the
structure. In a meeting on July 16, 1984, the U.S. Forest Service agreed to
have Homestake work with the engineers at the Forest Service Regional Office,
in the development of structurally safe, and engineering sound design criteria
for a spillway, that would permit the sediment dam to remain in place. A copy
of the Tetter documenting that agreement is attached.
As noted in response to items addressed earlier, Exhibit L has been
revised to include an additional $17,000 for exploration, evaluation, and
detailed design of the dam. spillway.