2011-03-14_REVISION - M1977493 (57)

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Permit Amendment (AM-06) - Climax Mine CM0000487 is not in operation and is discussed further in following sections. Another component of the 1 Dam/Robinson TSF EPF is the capping and reclamation program. As discussed earlier, 1 Dam was graded and capped in the early 1990s. Portions of 1 Dam were covered with topsoil and revegetated successfully from 2004 to 2009. The majority of the remainder of the TSF was capped with rock material from a portion of the E and F Dumps, the open pit cirque area, and other areas. This cap reduces infiltration of surface water into the tailing material and reduces available oxygen (particularly during the winter months) necessary for acid production. Revegetation work began in 1997 and is nearing completion. Robinson Lake and Dam: The Robinson Lake system including the reservoir proper and Robinson Dam is considered an EPF in the Eagle River watershed. The Robinson Lake Pump Station located directly below the dam, Warren's Pump Station, and the seepage collection and return system are each considered EPFs and are discussed individually. The primary purpose of Robinson Lake is to store process water, which can be diverted to Robinson Lake through the Tenmile Tunnel and delivered by the future Robinson Lake Pump Station back to the mill facilities. Thus, it is both an EPF and a potential source of contamination. During periods of past active operation, process and seepage/drain waters were mixed in Robinson Lake and pumped back into the industrial process water circuit from the Robinson Pump Station below Robinson Dam. Robinson Dam is under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Office of the State Engineer. In 2008, in accordance with information provided in TR-15, CIVIC conducted a sludge removal project in the east end of Robinson Lake to optimize the capacity of the facility for future production. Warren's Pump Station: Warren's Pump Station operates as an EPF during non-production periods, when the Robinson Lake Pump Station is not in operation. Warren's Pump System is contained within the footprint of Robinson Lake, near the northwest edge of the lake, and serves to pump waters collected below 1 Dam back to the treatment system via the 2 Dam Pipeline. Water that collects in Robinson Lake can be pumped directly to the Warren's Pump Station pond for return to the treatment system. • Robinson Lake Seepage Pump System: A cut-off wall below the Robinson Dam outlet area has been installed and keyed to bedrock to contain seepage from the upstream reservoir. Captured seepage is pumped back directly to the Robinson Lake. This cut-off component restricts seepage from entering Eagle Park Reservoir. 4 Dam Seepage Collection and Pump System: The final existing EPF in the Eagle River watershed that protects the environment of the Eagle River beyond and below the Climax property boundary is the 4 Dam Seepwater Pump Station and associated seepage collection system. This EPF is located just below the Eagle Park Dam and consists of a seepwater collection pond and two pumps in the adjoining enclosed pump house to return seepage to the upstream Robinson Lake. Located directly below the pump-house is a second, smaller seepage collection pond that acts as a back-up to collect additional seepage. This second pond supports a small pump that returns seepage back to the first collection pond. Robinson Lake Pump Station: The planned location of the Robinson Lake Pump Station, as presented in TR-14, is just below the earth-fill Robinson Dam. The existing pump station facility in this location has been decommissioned. The Robinson Lake Pump Station is part of the process water reclaim system allowing for the recycling and re-use of water from the TSFs. Water will be pumped to the mill water storage tank through a 21,000 foot buried pipeline for use as process water in the milling circuit. As described above, recharge to Robinson Lake will be accomplished by transferring water from Tenmile TSF and Mayflower TSF via the Tenmile Tunnel. In preparation for future mine activities, replacement of the pump station is planned. The replacement pump station is planned to have a design capacity of 10,000 gpm, where the former system had a capacity of 15,000 gpm. The Robinson Lake Pump Station design was submitted to, and approved by, DRMS in 2008 under TR-14 and designated as an EPF therein. The design of the Robinson Lake reclaim water pump system is based on using the existing outlet pipe from Robinson Lake. A new concrete outlet structure and remotely actuated hydraulic valve were installed in 2008. The Robinson Lake Pump Station building is designed as a pre-engineered metal building. No potable water or sanitary sewer systems are designed to be included in the building. Exhibit T T-15 May 2010