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Minutes, June Z4-25, l~ DRAFT Subject To Board Approval The Board explained that the Division and Board do not initiate involvement in the interrelations and processes that occur between co-operators and that the action taken Should be against both co-permittees. In response to an inquiry from the Board, Staff said that according to Division records, at the time of the violations, the permittees included Gold Hill Ventures Limited Partnership and COM, Inc. Mr. Steen, in response to a question from the Board, stated that the financial warranty and certificate of deposit for the last successor of operator were issued to Gold Hill Ventures, a Colorado mining partnership, and Colina Oro Molina. The Board asked that the Division clarify the names of the co-permittees at the time the notice of violations were issued. Staff reviewed the permit and stated that the original permit was issued to Gold Hill Mining Company in 1983, a succession of operator was approved in 1985 changing the name of the permittee to Gold Hill Ventures Limited Partnership, and in 1991 a succession of operators changed the permittee from Gold Hill Mining Company to Gold Hill Ventures (rather than Gold Hill Ventures Limited Partnership) and COM, Inc. Staff said the records indicate that the last succession of operator (August of 1991) did not change the permittee from Gold Hill Ventures Limited Partnership. Staff said that process changed the name from the original permittee (Gold Hill Mining Company) to Gold Hiil Ventures and COM, Inc. The Division issued the notice of violation to Gold Hill Ventures Limited Partnership on March 27, 1992. The Board discussed this issue in detail with Staff and Mr. Steen. After further review of the permit, Staff said that it appears that the last succession of operator is not correct, because the transferring permittee, Gold Hill Mining Company, should have been Gold Hill Ventures Limited Partnership. Staff said that in this instance, the name of the co-permittee would still be Gold Hill Ventures Limited Partnership. The Board discussed amending the Board Order to substitute the correct party, since all other issues would remain the same. It was also suggested that the matter be continued, with a request that the Attorney General's Office investigate the situation and provide an opinion and guidance to the Board toward resolution. In response to questions from the Board, Mr. Steen stated that the "Limited Partnership" no longer exists. He said this was eliminated through the succession of operator. However, he said the Colorado mining partnership, Gold Hill Ventures, is in existence at this time. Staff said that since COM, Inc., paid a portion of the civil penalty in this matter and a portion of it remains unpaid, the Board might also consider whether further civil penalties should be assessed for non-compliance with the Board Order.