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providing the review comments for the three portions of the permit application <br />that I was asked to address, namely: <br />• The design of the Valley Leach Facility (VLF) including lift heights and <br />slope stability as well as probable impacts to the solution delivery system <br />and ore loading sequence; <br />• The dynamic vs. static water balance for the Valley Leach Facility; and, <br />• The overall design of the limited infiltration layer associated with the <br />overburden handling and control of the storage areas in East Cresson. <br />1. Approach to Review <br />This review consisted of three distinct activities: <br />• Site visit with CC&V personnel on April 24, 2008. This site visit provided <br />an overall review of the site operations and specifically focused on the <br />proposed VLF expansion as well as the East Cresson area. All areas of the <br />site were available for the visit and all questions were addressed by the <br />CC&V personnel. <br />• Review of permit documentation. CC&V provided me with copies of the <br />following reports: <br />- East Cresson Overburden Storage Area Design - Adrian Brown <br />Consulting; <br />- Hydrogeochemical Evaluation - Adrian Brown Consulting (this report <br />was reviewed to obtain further background information about the <br />overall hydrogeochemistry of the overburden materials and the Cripple <br />Creek Diatreme); and, <br />- Cresson Project, Valley Leach Facility - Phase 5 Extension Design - <br />Smith Williams Consultants, Inc. (now part of AMEC; therefore, all <br />references to this report below will be to the AMEC report). This report <br />and all its Appendices (A to H) were reviewed. <br />• Meetings with Mr. Adrian Brown on July 17, 2008 and Dr. John Lupo on <br />July 18, 2008. Both these meetings took place at their respective offices. <br />An overall comment on the review process: I was very impressed with the level <br />of effort in the preparation of the design and other documents as well as the <br />depth of knowledge and commitment to an excellent project by both Adrian <br />Brown and John Lupo. <br />2. Design of the Valley Leach Facility <br />The Phase 5 Extension of the VLF will result in a larger footprint to the pad as <br />well as a maximum heap height (above the liner) of up to 800 feet. The liner <br />system of the expansion area is consistent with the liner systems used in the rest <br />2