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r , to <br />•.,�tnsA; .• <br />November 9, 2009 <br />Glean Greek County <br />POST OFFGE BOX 2000 <br />GEORGETOWN, GOLORADO 804 <br />'fEMPHONIE: (303) 669-3261 • (303) 679.2300 <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety <br />Mined Land Reclamation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />RE: Empress Gold Mining and Milling, Inc. Limited Impact 110(2) Reclamation Permit <br />Dear Mined Land Reclamation Board Members: <br />The Clear Creek County Land Use Division, which includes the County's Planning and <br />Zoning, Site Development, Environmental Health and Building Departments, has <br />reviewed the materials provided by Empress Gold through August 25, 2009 and available <br />to the public in the office of the Clear Creek County Clerk. We find the application <br />documents have internal inconsistencies and generate important questions. We believe <br />the applicant should provide additional information - especially regarding likely impacts <br />to water quality of the creek - before it is considered eligible for a Reclamation Permit. <br />The following issues are those that cause us the highest level of concern at this time: <br />Water Quality Concerns <br />Exhibit C - Mining Plan, Section H indicates that the mill will require "several thousand <br />gallons of water each day and the source of the water will come directly out of the mine." <br />There is no discussion of the actual quantity or character of the water. The ILC dated <br />8/23/09 indicates that the mine discharge water will be stored in a 10,000 gallon tank on <br />the property, however, the Mining Plan, Section E, indicates that the mine water will be <br />pumped to evaporation ponds. <br />Given the 303(d) listing of Clear Creek, we believe there should be discussion of the <br />impacts of the proposed activity on the Creek. The untitled sketch in the application <br />packet leads us to believe that this site is hydrologically connected to Clear creek. We <br />request that the applicant provide fiuther explanation regarding their sketch and the <br />connection to Clear Creek before the application is evaluated. <br />Site Plan Concerns <br />The ILC dated 8/23/09 indicates storage areas for both ore and tailings; however the <br />:Mining Plan does not describe measures that will be implemented to protect these piles <br />from the weather. It would appear that stormwater runoff from these piles could reach <br />"Honoring Our Past, Kile Designing Our Future" <br />