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l <br />Received <br />The Silver Wing Company, Inc. / r~~~ ~ c~ <br />P.O. Box 299 <br />Silverton, Colorado 81433 <br />~t~ of A~Nn~tab 8 nGeoloay <br />(970) 387-5813 <br />Fax - (970) 387-5760 <br />DEiV`JER <br />~~ FdCE <br />November 13, 2003 <br />Department of Natural Resources / <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />701 Camino Del Rio, Room 125 <br />Durango, Colorado 81301 ~C <br />Attention: Mr. Wallace H. Erickson oil; _ y0` ~®~ <br />Environmental Protection Specialist s~O°°~ ~¢ <br />Re: Pride of the West Mill Howardsville Mill) °j8b <br />MLRB Permit No. M-84-049 / / ry~4mG <br />3rd Quarter Monitoring Report / "~i <br />Dear Mr. Erickson: <br />Results of surface and ground water monitoring for the third quarter 2003 are attached. <br />No elevated cyanide levels were observed for any of the monitoring and compliance <br />points around the tailings pond. One series of elevated values occurred immediately after the <br />initial start-up period in the pond return water (MP-7}, The cause of this excursion was an <br />undetected equipment failure which led to discharge of excess free cyanide to the pond. Upon <br />learning of the elevated levels, milling operations were suspended, hydrogen peroxide addition <br />levels were increased, pond water was recirculated through the destruction vessels 24 hours per <br />day and additional aeration was added at the pond. The equipment failure was caused by an all- <br />iron pipeline that contained two iron unions (installed for cyanide service). However, the unions <br />contained copper seats which were dissolved by the cyanide allowing excess cyanide to be <br />leaked into the sump of the leach plant. Floor clean-up of spilled slimes was pumped to the <br />tailings pond. The unions have been replaced and management procedures instituted to prevent <br />this from happening again. Results for MP-7 for the balance of the quarter were withing permit <br />limits. <br />If you have any questions, please let me know. <br />R ectfully, <br />to en C~ am, President <br />