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Mr. R. Burgess <br />S/23/02 <br />Page 5 of 5 <br />Miscellaneous TAC comments <br />Windy Gulch can be considered an intermittent stream. In upper Windy Gulch above the <br />8achebr Road, there is a groundwater component to streamflow. Homestake's assessment of <br />Windy Gulch below the Bachelor Road indicates that it is a losing stream in this reach. Flow <br />occurs either as surface flow or shallow subsurface flow in stream alluvium. This assessment did <br />not indicate that there is any significant groundwater contribution to streamflow along this reach. <br />Therefore, while it is accurate to state that Windy Gulch has a substantial groundwater <br />component along its upstream reach, it does not have a significant groundwater component that is <br />added below the Bachelor Road. <br />Homestake has provided information to the DMG regarding the occurrence of elevated metals <br />concentrations in Creede Formation rock and groundwater. The Creede Formation is <br />mineralized, has been exploited by small-scale mining operations and has been considered as a <br />large, low-grade orebody (information provided to Allen Sorenson, DMG on February 19, 1999 <br />under TR-8). The contact between the Creede Formation and rhyolite is approximately at the <br />9700 dump. Therefore, below the 9700 dump Windy Gulch may be flowing on mineralized <br />Creede Formation rock and alluvium. <br />The Creede Formation well referred to above was installed under Technical Revision 8 in 1998 as <br />part of the 9360 Adit closure studies. Water quality samples from this well for the period of 1998 <br />through 2000 indicate that background metals concentrations in Creede Formation groundwater <br />are elevated. Sample data are attached. Zincpo,aq concentrations reported for the well ranged <br />from 3.85 to 8.74 mg/I during that period. Therefore, it is Homestake's opinion that there is <br />evidence to suggest that metals in Windy Gulch may come from natural sources. <br />I trust this adequately addresses the Forest Service comments. We look forward to receiving your <br />approval for the proposed reclamation activities at the Bulldog Mine. If you have any further <br />questions, please contact me at 505-828-1621 or via my cell phone at (505) 400-2794. <br />Sincere) Yours, <br />Alan D. Cox / <br />Manager- Grants & <br />Southwest US <br />Cc: B. Ingersoll - SLC <br />V. Kelso - Sargents <br />B. Oswald -Colorado DMG, Durango <br />J. Rowe - WMCI, Denver <br />