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STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Department of Natural Resources 7313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866-3567 FAX: (3031832-8706 November 4, 2003 Alan D. Cox ~ Homestake Mining Company 6719-D Academy Road NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 R~~ ~~~,~ ~iyif. Ol/O ~ g~~?. ~O~o J y v'~.1 ~~~ `~`y~b s;. DIVISION O F MINERALS GEOLOGY RECLAMATION M INING•SA FETY Bill Owens Governor Greg E. Walther Executive Director Ronald W. Cattany Acting Division Director Re: Bulldog Mine, Permit M-1977-215, Operator's 10/30 Responses Concerning Tecluiical Revision TR-11. Dear Mr. Cox, Thank you for providing the follow-up response referenced above. I agree that most of the questions contained in my August letter and inspection report were answered during the 8/26/03 inspection, but your written responses help to clearly document that all of these issues are, in fact, now considered to be adequately addressed. I offer additional comment on each of the items, in the same order as in our previous correspondence, in the paragrnphs below. 8/11/03 DMG Letter 1. The new map of the 9360 level dump area adequately shows the topsoiled areas. Concerning the question about the road to the lower tailings area, the road maintenance need not be shown on a map. Those activities may be best summarized as being graded throughout, waterbars installed, ditches cleaned, and culverts cleaned. 2. The 2003 seeding has been reported as being carved out as proposed. Future monitoring will bear out if it is successful throughout. Reseeding will be tamed out as needed. 3. The newly graded slopes, though they have not withstood the test of a "wet" season, nevertheless appeared stable with no erosion at the time of the last inspection, and your response also states this. Futtue monitoring will be carried out, and areas treated as needed. 4. Though the new upper surface of the lower tailings dam may not undulate throughout the area affected during the borrow and grading that was carried out, it was graded to drain properly and currently appears stable. The Division approves of the new configuration. Monitoring will indicate whether portions of it will need further grading and seeding. 5. The maintenance of the road to the lower tailings dam appears adequate at this time. Regular monitoring will be carried out, and maintenance will be performed as needed. 6. The road to the 9700 level portal area was barricaded only at its upper terminus, for reason of access to other properties and owners. The Division understands the reasons for the location of the barricade, and agrees it represents a reasonable method of prohibiting vehicular access to the dump area. The graded dump appears stable, but should be monitored. 7. The 9360 level portal backfill and grading appeared to be in good condition also. It appeared stable, free of debris, and dry. It will also be monitored in the future, and conditions corrected as needed.