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includes a proposed 110 million ton extension (Phase 5) to the existing VLF within the current <br />disturbance area of Arequa Gulch to process the additional mined ore. <br />The extended mining activities will include vegetation removal, topsoil salvage, and excavation <br />of ore and overburden using the currently approved mining rates and practices for Amendment <br />No. 8. Ore will be processed in the existing and approved Cresson Project crushing and the <br />Adsorption-Desorption-Recovery ("ADR") processing facilities. Overburden will be placed as <br />mine backfill into all or portions of the existing and proposed East Cresson, North Cresson, and <br />Main Cresson Mine areas. Upon completion of mining, the MLE areas will be backfilled, graded, <br />growth medium placed and the area reclaimed as described in the enclosed OMLR application. <br />The reclamation plan for the MLE is an extension of the approved reclamation plan practices for <br />the Cresson Mine, in conformance with the Teller County Growth Management Plan. <br />Changes to the Cresson Project Amendment No. 8 facilities will include construction and <br />operation of Phase 5 to the VLF, relocation of the crusher maintenance to accommodate <br />construction of Phase 5, relocation of the VLF load out bin, and new access to the crusher area <br />through the Ironclad security gate. There are no proposed changes to crushing, ADR processing, <br />or the Ironclad maintenance facilities. <br />The permit boundary remains much the same as in approved Amendment 8 and subsequent <br />technical revisions; however, CC&V has acquired some inholdings within the permit boundary. <br />Categories of affected acres within the approved permit area will change, with previous areas of <br />ancillary disturbance converted to areas of mining and growth medium and overburden storage <br />and areas of active processing. Minor changes to the approved reclamation plan and to the <br />Environmental Protection Plan are described in the enclosed OMLR application. The site wide <br />reclamation and closure financial warranty submitted to the OMLR has been recalculated to <br />bring unit costs to current rates and to address the changes in affected areas associated with the <br />MLE. <br />The proposed Cresson MLE is within the Teller County designated Cripple Creek Mining <br />Overlay District Boundary for the approved Cresson Project, <br />The MLE will be implemented with the CC&V mining equipment fleet and current personnel, <br />with contractor use for constructing the Phase 5 VLF extension, moving the load out bin, and <br />relocating and realigning public roads. The MLE will be implemented within the Amendment <br />No. 8 projected CC&V employment levels. <br />The proposed MLE can perhaps be best described as extending the mining and processing by <br />approximately four years. The MLE will be carried out using existing and approved practices for <br />the Cresson Project in approved areas. <br />The Regulatory Process <br />County Land Use Regulations (LURs) require that amended Mining Development Plan <br />approvals within the CCMOD be handled through the Appendix CC-10 -Cripple Creek Mining <br />Overlay District, with the recognition that all existing non-mining Conditional Use Permits <br />remain valid.