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DRMS in a timely manner (anticipated to be monthly unless acid bearing character is <br />observed, then DRMS will be noted real-time). <br />9. Page 1, Sixth Paragraph "Exhibit C-Mining Plan (Rule 6.3.3)": "Ore.. sufficient <br />opportunity to decant (where, how, for how long..) how loose ore or sacked ore can be <br />adequately handled or contained, and how loss of ore or leaching of minerals due to <br />precipitation will be avoided". <br />RESPONSE: Ore processing begins underground. There are significant 'open' portions <br />of the mine are dry and within close proximity to active mining area. The underground <br />operations remove actively liberated materials from the blasting areas to adjacent <br />tunnels and alcoves were the material initially decants. Once the material is relatively <br />dry, it is transported outside and separated into ore and waste. The on-site operators <br />have not noticed any free water released from the ore during this process. The amount <br />of ore produced is adequately encapsulated by the existing ore pad. The pad occurs <br />within a working bench area of the permit area. This bench contains all storm-water <br />with the use of perimeter berms and pad sloping which keeps all water from reaching <br />off-site areas such as Sneffels Creek. Leaching of minerals from ore is not anticipated to <br />be a significant environmental transport pathway. As previously demonstrated and <br />documented within the Ruby Trust Solids analysis (provided within the initial <br />amendment application), the materials produced from the mine are not susceptible to <br />ambient leachating processes. Aggressive leachate tests (synthetic precipitate leachate <br />procedure tests) were conducted on the materials which rely on a series of acids. <br />Ambient conditions would lend natural precipitation sources as the potential solvent <br />which are more unlikely to be able to solubilize metals from the solid materials matrix <br />than the acids relied upon in the leachate tests. <br />10. Page 1, Seventh/Final Paragraph "Exhibit C-Mining Plan (Rule 6.3.3)": "The waste <br />rock... there is no estimate given for the amount of waste rock that may potentially be <br />placed... Please provide information about the waste rock and dump slopes, regarding <br />the issues identified above". <br />RESPONSE: Correspondence with mine personnel indicate that the mine site at peak <br />performance, assuming worst-case yield (all materials produced from the mine are <br />comprised of waste rock and no ore is obtained) could produce -34.9 tons/day which <br />equates to 14.2 cubic yards. As shown in Exhibit E, Map E.1 the maximum capacity for <br />waste rock storage is 453 cubic yards. Therefore the permit area provides <br />approximately 30 days worth of waste rock storage. As per the agreement with the <br />County, this time period is more than adequate and should not be needed since waste 00 <br />an <br />rock will be actively transferred to the County for use. The waste rock storage areas a