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2005 ES-1 <br />I, <br />I~ <br />I~ <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />053-2386 <br />Golder Associates Inc. {Golder) has prepazed this report for the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold <br />Mining Company (CC&V) to present the results of supplemental geosynthetic liner load testing <br />which was performed to evaluate the performance of the various Valley Leach Facility (VLF) liner <br />systems under higher ore loading conditions than currently approved under Amendment No. 8 to the <br />Office of Mined Land Reclamation (OMLR) Permit M-1980-244. The purpose of these tests was to <br />demonstrate that the current Cresson VLF liner systems can maintain hydraulic containment with ore <br />depths that aze greater than the designed and approved ore depth of approximately 590 feet. Note, <br />however, that CC&V is not proposing a VLF height increase greater than the approved height of <br />approximately 590 feet. Based on the new density of ore on the VLF, approximately 300 MT of ore <br />can be placed on the VLF. <br />The tests consisted of constructing the liner system for the Ore Storage Area (OSA) or the Pregnant <br />Solution Storage Area (PSSA) within a rigid steel-ring testing vessel, using the same methods as used <br />for Amendment No. 8 to OMLR Permit M-1980-244. For the OSA, the liner system consisted of <br />(from the top to bottom) Drain Cover Fill (DCF), geomembrane, and Soil Liner Fill (SLF). The <br />PSSA liner system consisted of (from the top to bottom) DCF, geomembrane, and Low Volume <br />Solution Collection (LVSC) Fill. Once the liner system was constructed, a steel platen and hydraulic <br />ram were used to incrementally load the liner system to the anticipated maximum load. The tests <br />involve holding the maximum load for a minimum of 24 hours before the liner system is unloaded <br />and inspected. After testing, the geomembrane liner is removed and inspected for damage. A <br />vacuum box is used to test for the presence of holes. <br />Liner load tests were conducted to evaluate the strength of the following VLF liner systems and ore <br />loading depths: <br />• The Amendment No. 7 and 8 (Phase III and N) OSA Liner System was tested to <br />a maximum equivalent ore depth of approximately 1,110 feet. <br />• The Amendment No. 8 (Phase N) PSSA Liner System was tested to a maximum <br />equivalent ore height of approximately 880 feet. <br />• The Amendment No. 6 (Phase I and II) OSA Liner System was tested to a <br />maximum equivalent ore height of approximately 880 feet. <br />~:\OS\2386\OJOOVN-Iinerloadmpp0505\0532386.0400.fNrepdoc GolderAssocietes <br />