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Response to Geochemistry Review - May Day Conversion CN-1 <br />File No. M-1981-185 <br />quality characteristics The wells will be drilled 10 feet below the elevation of the La Plata <br />River. If water is not encountered, the hole will be abandoned and Wildcat Mining will <br />seek a determination that no groundwater of significance exists requiring monitoring. If <br />water is encountered at the elevation of the La Plata River, a 4 to 6 inch well will be <br />completed and tested for production yields and water quality. If the groundwater quality <br />has water quality characteristics similar to surface and spring water quality samples <br />previously collected by Wildcat Mining, Wildcat Mining will seek a determination that <br />groundwater and surface water quality are from the same source. If surface and <br />groundwater well water quality are similar, Wildcat Mining will seek a determination that <br />background water quality is adequately characterized to address DRMS groundwater <br />monitoring regulatory requirements. If groundwater quality is significantly different from <br />surface water, Wildcat Mining will continue groundwater monitoring to characterize <br />groundwater quality. If groundwater needs to be further characterized, Wildcat Mining <br />will conduct mining activities above the water table and will focus on storing dry stacked <br />tailings in the underground workings. <br />Adequacy Issue #6 <br />A. Exhibit E - Reclamation Plan; Rule 3.1.7(6), page 10. The Applicant must specifically <br />state where the points of compliance (POC) will be for surface water. Sampling station <br />SW-2 appears to be satisfactory as the surface water POC, but this must be explicitly <br />stated in the application. <br />B. For ground water, the Division does not believe that the Idaho seep is satisfactory as a <br />ground water point of compliance due to the probability that all ground water in the May <br />Day area may not report to the Idaho Seep. The receptor of greatest concern to which <br />ground water from the site may report is the La Plata River, which is a local drinking <br />water source. <br />Therefore, the relevant ground water containment limits shall be the domestic water <br />supply and drinking water standards, except as noted in Colorado Water Quality Control <br />Commission (WQCC) Region 9 stream classifications. <br />C. The Division will require at least two ground water monitoring wells between the lower <br />most mine portals of the May Day and Idaho areas and the La Plata River. Since the <br />Applicant is planning on drilling additional exploratory boreholes, the Applicant may <br />convert, depending on location and in consultation with the Division, some of the <br />boreholes to 2-inch monitoring wells and 1-inch piezometers. The parameters for ground <br />water sampling should conform to Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 of WQCC Regulation 41. <br />Response #6 <br />The point of compliance for surface water will be SW-2 located down gradient of the mine <br />site and located on La Plata River. <br />May Day Idaho Mine Complex 112(d) Permit Application <br />Revised: April 14, 2011