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indicates what aquifer may be affected by the prospecting operation and it discusses water usage <br />at the site. It appears the permitted well at the site cannot be used for industrial purposes. Also, it <br />is unclear if the Applicant has water rights from Clear Creek that can be used for industrial <br />purposes. Please clarify: <br />a. Will water be used for any purpose for the operation? If so, describe how the water will <br />be used, and estimate the amount of water needed for the project. Also, the Applicant <br />must submit documentation ensuring Empress Gold Mining and Milling Inc. will obtain <br />the water from a legal source and that this water will be diverted in priority under a water <br />right decree for industrial use. <br />5.) On the updated cross section map, the Applicant depicts a settling pond and a mud pit in the drift <br />near the drilling station. Is there a different purpose for these two pits? <br />6.) Please indicate the size of the settling pond, what the pond will be used for specifically in the <br />prospecting operation and what material will settle out in this pond? <br />7.) Please clarify if the ore material from the tunnel clean-out operation will be milled? <br />8.) For drilled material and possibly the ore generated by cleaning out the tunnel, please indicate <br />where this material will be milled; please provide the location of the mill and an appropriate <br />permit number. It must be milled at a facility approved for such an operation. <br />9.) Has an MSHA Permit been obtained for this operation? <br />Operations and Reclamation Measures: <br />10.)The Applicant indicates they will backfill the drill holes with concrete; this material may not be <br />suitable for abandoning the proposed drill holes. In accordance with Rule 5.4.2 (2), any drill hole <br />which encounters an aquifer in volcanic or sedimentary rock shall be sealed, utilizing a high <br />quality sodium bentonite type gel specifically developed for use as an abandonment fluid. Please <br />specifically indicate the type of material to be used to abandon the drill holes. This material will <br />need to be tremied into the drill holes. The Division will include a cost for this operation as part <br />of the financial warranty. <br />I L)The response to item 20 of the Division's first review alludes the drill holes will be plugged on <br />completion of drilling, however it is unclear when proper abandonment will occur. The drill <br />holes must be abandoned immediately upon completion of drilling in order to prevent and limit <br />cross mingling of water from various fractures. Please indicate specifically when the drill holes <br />will be abandoned. <br />12.)For the photos submitted with the response letter, please indicate the date these photos were <br />taken. Also, please describe the general location of where the photos were taken and the <br />direction/orientation the camera was pointing. <br />13.)During the site inspection, you indicated the timbers removed from the adit would be stored in <br />one of the facilities on the property to be used as firewood. Please indicate if this will be the case. <br />14.)For the 1/4 acre to be affected by the operation, the Applicant must reclaim any surface <br />disturbance. The surface will be disturbed by truck traffic, ore/timber removal and storage from <br />the drift. Please address the following issues: <br />a. In regards to the 30x3Oxl2 foot dump station/waste pit, please indicate what will be done <br />with the ore/waste stored in the pit once the prospecting operation is complete. <br />i. The Division recommends this material be placed back into the adit once <br />prospecting is complete to prevent long term weathering of the material.