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1.2 Backeround of the Site <br />.~ <br />The Cripple Creek Mining District ("District") has produced over 23 million ounces of <br />gold since its discovery in 1891. Initially, most of the mining was by underground <br />methods; however since the 1970's, there has been a conversion to surface mining and <br />"heap" leaching for mineral recovery. Permit M-1980-244 was issued in April 1981. <br />Subsequent amendments to the permit (Amendment Nos, 1 through 8) have modified site <br />activities with the more recent authorizing the present surface gold mining, processing <br />and recovery operations, <br />The most recent amendment was submitted to the DMG in March 2000 as Amendment <br />No. 8 and was approved in August of 2000. Amendment No. 8 was based on the <br />ongoing exploration discoveries with incorporation of additional ore into the mining plan <br />and the corresponding need for extension of the overburden storage areas, the VLF, and <br />ancillary facilities. Specifically Amendment No. 8 included: <br />1) Continued surface mining in the Main Cresson Mine and in the East Cresson <br />Mine, while extending the mine azeas for both. <br />2) Enlazgement of the two active Overburden Storage Areas (Arequa Gulch and <br />Squaw Gulch). <br />3) Construction of a new crusher. <br />4) Extension of the VLF. <br />• 5) Expansion of the processing facilities. <br />6) Expansion of the maintenance facilities, <br />7) Increased ore and overburden mining and processing rates. <br />8) Associated extension of the infrastructure supporting these elements such as haul <br />roads, vehicle access roads, utilities, and surface water diversion systems. <br />1.3 Technical Revision No. 43 <br />A total of 42 technical revisions to Permit M-1980-244 have been approved since [he <br />permit was originally granted in 1981. These technical revisions have included changes <br />in design specifications, drainage modifications, changes in mine plans, and extensions of <br />the VLF. The proposed ECME is submitted in the form of a request for approval of TR <br />43. <br />1.3.1 General Proiect Description -ECME <br />As a result of the increases in gold ore reserves realized through ongoing exploration <br />within the approved affected azea, CC&V is proposing the ECME as TR 43, which <br />extends the existing East Cresson Mine in a southerly direction, to mine additional gold <br />ore and to process and recover additional gold through existing Amendment No. 8 <br />facilities. Overburden resulting from mining of the ECME will be placed into other <br />portions of the existing East Cresson Mine as mine backfill. No new buildings will be <br />constructed in conjunction with the ECME. The ECME will be implemented within the <br />• approximate employment levels anticipated for Amendment No. 8 (approximately 334 <br />employees) and will be mined with existing equipment, <br />