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<br /> <br />Committee on Mining & the Environment <br />Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. <br />Gold Hill, Colorado <br />H n ~cisun <br />Cltruq rrsxm <br />September 15, 1995 <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 2l5 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Attn: Allen Sorenson <br />Dear Mr. Sorenson: <br />Sao <br />ru Iw~~wo <br />IioUlder, l:U BU:SUIi <br />~ F (.,F ~V E ~! Page 1 of 1 pages <br />SEP 18 1995 <br />pivision of r~unel3~s is Veologv <br />This is to document our telecon of 14 September. As you will recall, we discussed my <br />observations at the Gold Hill millsite this week. Having received our copy of your Inspection Report <br />for the Mill, dated 8/26, on 9/12, and having noted in your report that pumping of water from the <br />Hazel A adit to the tailings pond was initiated on August 30, the Committee thought it worthwhile to <br />check on the progress of the water transfer as well as the associated water level changes in the tailings <br />pond. <br />Therefore, on September 13, with the knowledge and consent of Mr. Steen, I proceeded to the <br />Hazel A adit and to a point of observation of the tailings pond. At these places I made the <br />observations which we discussed, namely, that the water level in the Hazel A was at about 29" <br />freeboard, some 9" lower than previously observed; that a submersible pump had been located at the <br />Hazel A bulkhead and connected to a water line which presumably (1 did not verify this) carries water <br />from the pump to the mill and thence to the tailings pond (this pump was not in operation); that some <br />water is showing at the deep end of the pond, and some additional water is showing at a low spot in <br />the upper end of the pond (presumably accumulated rainwater from the recent precipitation at Gold <br />Hill). In aggregate, water is now covering some 10 to IS percent (my estimate) of the available pond <br />surface. <br />No observable work had been done to rectify the documented deficiencies in the pond liner, <br />hence useable freeboard has increased little if any since June. I expressed to you my concero that <br />suitable water evaporation weather is drawing to an inevitable close with the oncoming Fall, and that, <br />if action to empty the Hazel A and repair/raise the liner is not taken soon, we may find ourselves in <br />the same predicament next Spring that faced us this year: a pond with no available freeboard, incoming <br />precipitation, and a Hazel A that is full and taking water. <br />1 hope this meets your documentation needs. <br />Sincerely yours, <br />R. N. Mason, Chairman <br />