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Skokomisn_Legal_uep ~. ,.% "~S ~ ~ ~ ~1 ~,..,,~.. ~ HRIAN H. COLLtNS 2732 SUMMERHILL COURT S.W. TUMWATER, WA 98512 (360) 570.0380 brienhcollins~a vahoo.com //v1- Iq~l z-~~I~S c/C;t~~ r t ~S ~,~Sc~,--~t? August 7, 2006 ~° r. Carl Mount vision of Minerals and Geology its of Colorado 13 Sherman Street; Room 215 truer, CO 80203 Discharge from Gold Basin Mine Setiling Ponds Dear Mr. Mount: This is a followup to otu telephone conversation on August 3'~ during which you requested that I send you a letter setting forth my observations as to a release of polluted water from settling ponds into a stream channel at the Gold Basin Mine which is situated in Chaffee County near the Chaffee County-Lake County line , My observations are as follows. On July 30, 2006, at approximately 3:30 p.m., I drove up Lost Canyon which is situated in Chaffee County, Colorado. I have driven up Lost Canyon many times during the past 30 or 40 years and recalled that a placer mining operation in upper Lost Canyon had been active in the past. I noticed that the mining operation had moved up the valley approximately one mile from1974, when I last drove up Lost Canyon. Upon encountering a live stream near timberline, I noticed that the water was orange-brown, resembling the color of water I used to see in California Gulch near Leadville. I could not remember which established roadway to follow near the head of Lost Canyon to reach the area above timberline between Lost Canyon and Boswell Gulch and followed the main road through an open gate entering the Gold Basin Mine Claim where I fumed around I noticed that the owners of the mine were advertising recreational gold panning on their claim and it appeared to me that members of the public were present for that purpose. I noticed there were two small settling ponds at the mine and each contained orange-brown water. I also noticed that orange-brown water was being discharged from a pipe in the lower settling pond into the stream channel. Tam not sure of the name of the croak. Following the creek approximately one mile downstream, I avticed that the orange-brown water croming from the settling ponds was the source of discolored water lower in the valley.