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LKA International, Inc. / <br />3724 47a' Street Ct. NW <br />Gig Harbor, WA 98335 <br />(253)851-7486 <br />Fax: (253) 851-5449 <br />August 27, 2002 <br />Mr. Bob Oswald <br />Div. of Minerals & Geology <br />1313 Sherman Street, Rm. 215 <br />Denver, CO <br />RECEIVED <br />auc 3 ~ zooz ~ <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />FACSIl171L,E TRANSMISSION <br />(Durango Office) <br />Re: Request for Boazd Hearing for Determination of Requiring a Permit for Offsite Ore <br />Loading Area, Golden Wonder Mine, Permit M-1978-091 / <br />Dear Mr. Oswald, <br />Subsequent to our last telephone conversation, I personally inspected the site referenced <br />above on the 29a' and 30a` of August 2002, and discussed this matter in detail with Lance <br />Barker and Ken Orvis of Au Mining. I found the conditions of the ore-loading site were <br />quite different from what I had envisioned after speaking with you and reading your <br />report. My observations were as follows: <br />1.) There was no visible ore on the ground at the loading site. Further, I did not see <br />`goose ore", or signs of same, anywhere near the site. <br />2.) There was no visible evidence anywhere on site of ore, or metals there from, <br />leaching into the ground. In fact, I observed that native grasses were growing on <br />the exact azea that ore bags (each containing approximately one ton of crushed <br />ore) were, and have been previously, stored prior to transport. <br />3.) The bags in which the ore is transported appeared to be water tight, or nearly so, <br />with the only exposure of ore to the elements occurring in a relatively small area <br />at the top of the bag which is loosely covered with a flap to prevent duect <br />exposure to rain. I personally observed the off-loading and loading of over forty <br />bags (x2) and witnessed no spillage of either ore or liquids of any kind. <br />4.) In talking with members of the Vickers family (the owners of the property) I <br />conSrmed that ore bags were seldom stored on the site for more than a couple of <br />days prior to shipment. This was mostly due to a convenience concern for <br />property owner and a security concern for the operator. A sizeable portion of the <br />site, which normally serves as a vehicle pazking lot, is unavailable for use by the <br />owner during the storage and loading period. Accordingly, I could not determine <br />how you arrived at your wnclusion that metallics are currently leaching, or would <br />uhimately be leaching, into the soils ofthe site. <br />