2010-03-16_REVISION - M1981185 (29)

Home Browse Search

Wildcat Mining Corporation Page 11 • Standing snow depths at the elevation of the May Day mine rarely exceed 6 feet; the mine and mill are not situated in avalanche danger. The daily range of winter temperatures is typically about 5 to 35 F. Spring weather is warm and occasionally rainy. Annual precipitation at Hesperus Colorado averages 18.5 inches, most of which arrives during the late summer thunderstorms and as winter snow. Weather will not significantly affect the proposed operation. Work may be delayed a few days annually for snow removal or because workers have difficulty traveling to work. The Colorado Department of Transportation imposes highway load limits for a few weeks during the spring thaw; these can be worked around with just a bit of foresight. The low hills of the La Plata Mountains, at the location of the May Day mine property are moderately wooded with a mixture of pinon, juniper, western yellow (ponderosa) pine, Douglas fir, aspen, Gambel oak, mountain mahogany, chokecherry, and sage. Narrow -leaf cottonwood, alder, and willow line the nearby banks of the La Plata River. Drought conditions of the past several years have dried the woods with the consequence of severe wildfires throughout the region. Prudent property owners are aggressively thinning natural vegetation to facilitate structure protection in the in the path of wildfire. Local Resources As noted above, Mayday Colorado has immediate access to the paved highway network. Durango Colorado (population 15,000), Cortez Colorado (population 8,150), and Farmington New Mexico (population 43,000) are all principal commercial centers for the Four Corners region. All three communities have scheduled commercial air service - currently to Albuquerque, Denver, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. Farmington is particularly noteworthy as the service center for the booming San Juan Basin gas industry and for two major coal mines. The major national commercial centers of Albuquerque NM, Salt Lake City UT, Phoenix AZ, and Denver CO are all within a day's drive. Underground mining requires workers with a particular approach to their work and with a very distinct and uncommon set of skills and experience; this is particularly true for small underground operations. The small mining towns of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado are among the better sources of workers with these skills. Infrastructure • The May Day property has immediate access to the US national highway system. Secondary access roads to the mine and mill are adequate for the scale of operations planned. January 2007 May Day- Idaho Mine Colorado