1992-04-22_REVISION - M1988112 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• ,~ Minutes, April 22-23, 1992 "~`~~ DR~-FT Subject To Board Approval 20 Board Meeting, the Board did not reach a decision regarding w er Staff said the operator has prov' d the Division with a resource conservation plan that covers a area in question and places the excavation under a recla on plan. Staff said the Division was satisfied with the o ator's submittal and recommenjed that the Board's Order had been satisfied. this activity should be considered mining. At that time, a Board continued the matter and ordered that prior to this ring the operator either give evidence that the excavation i n~:luded as part of a resource conservation plan approved by th unniscn County Soil District or obtain a reclamation permit thro the Division. It was MOV that the Board, in this matter, issue a Declaratory Order indica g that the activity by the operator is not considered mining unslef the law. SECONDED AND PASSED 6 for (Kraeger-Rovey, Cooley, ouflas, Stewart, Danielson and Cattany); 1 abstention (Da mi). 9. FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING BATTLE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, INCORPORATED File IJo. M-88-112 333 Clay Street, 42nd Floor Houston, TX 77002 All persons wishing to give testimony were sworn. Secs. 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22, T325, R71W, 6th P.M., Co~;tilla County, 2,200 acres; 112 open pit gold and silver. Consideration of a possible notice of violation, cease and desist order, corrective? actions and civil penalties for failure to comply with the conditions of the permit. Staff referenced EXHIBIT A, a package of information, including the Division's presentation and Exhibits. Staff informed the Board that 2 organizations, the Costilla County Conservancy District and the Peoples Alternative Energy Services, have requested party ste.tus to this hearing. Staff said this permit was issued on March 23, 1989, for a combined heap and vat leach gold operation. It was noted that, at the time, the Division received objections, as well as support, from citizens of the area, regarding issuance of the permit. On January 24, 1~~90 the permit was amended to eliminate the heap leach portion of the operation and specified the use of a vat leach mill operation, including the use of carbon, and a tailings dam for disposal of tailings from tre mill. Staff referenced a map included in Exhibit A and stated that the mine is located about 5 miles northeast of San Luis, with the entire permit area encompassing 2,200 acres. Staff said the mine consists of 2 open pits, the east and the west. Staff said the overburden from which the operator obtains ore bodies is deposited as waste rock piles. Staff said that during the mining process the material is transported to the mill where it undergoes a cyanidation process. The tailings from the process go through a waste treatment process called an AVR System, before they are deposited into the tailings pond.