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• 0 <br /> • reclamation of the pond was to be coincidental with or subsequent to the end-of-life of <br /> the Climax Mine. <br /> Unlike many mining operations, Climax has very senior and very valuable water rights in <br /> each of the three basins located on the mine property. Trans-divide conveyances also <br /> exist at the mine site. During the late 1980's and early 1990's when Climax remained in <br /> standby mode awaiting improved economic conditions in the molybdenum market, <br /> Climax began to evaluate the opportunities these water rights afforded. Climax also <br /> considered the future needs for production and the water handling facilities that would <br /> be required to meet projected production rates. At the time, the Oxide Pond appeared <br /> to be a resource no longer required in molybdenum production. Acceleration of the <br /> reclamation timetable was evaluated for conversion of the Oxide Pond to fresh water <br /> storage. Redevelopment of this water resource and its storage capabilities became the <br /> obvious next step. <br /> Prefeasibility evaluations began as early as 1989 looking into the overall water storage <br /> and delivery capabilities of the infrastructure located at Climax. In 1992, Clinton <br /> Reservoir was sold. A later agreement between Climax and Vail Associates was <br /> reached for tailing removal in Eagle Park. In that agreement, Vail would obtain storage <br /> rights in the reservoir for use in snowmaking. On February 18, 1993, Climax and the <br /> Division of Minerals and Geology discussed conversion of the reservoir. In November of <br /> 1993, a Technical Revision to the Climax Reclamation Permit was submitted. This <br /> Technical Revision described the initial tailing removal operation using engineered <br /> • hydraulic monitoring and slurry pumping of the 'reservoir materials. Tailing removal <br /> commenced in June of 1994 using hydraulic mining methods. The removal method was <br /> redirected in the spring of 1995 as described in an April 1995 addendum to the <br /> Technical Revision. In that addendum, Climax outlined a second method of tailing <br /> removal using truck and shovel excavation. <br /> Project Description <br /> The following is a brief summary and status report for the activities that have taken <br /> place in the reservoir beginning in 1994: <br /> • Tailing Relocation <br /> 1. Hydraulic Monitoring - (Commenced June 1994; suspended in October, 1994) <br /> High pressure water at 300-400 psi was used to suspend solids into a slurry. <br /> The slurry was then pumped overland, using a series of booster pump stations, <br /> through a fourteen inch HDPE pipeline to the existing tailing cutouts at the <br /> Tenmile Tailing Impoundment. Suspended materials were then settled in the <br /> Tenmile Tailing Pond. <br /> 2. Truck and Shovel - (Commenced April 1995; completed October 1996) <br /> The truck and shovel operation was conducted in three distinct phases. The <br /> • first phase was initiated under a contract with Blattner & Sons of Avon, Minn. <br /> For several reasons, this contract was terminated in November of 1995. The <br /> 2 <br />