Laserfiche WebLink
3. Provide drill hole depths and designate which holes will be RIC and which will be cored. Cored holes <br />will require sumps or tanks ("sediment traps ") for recirculating fluids while RIC hole may not. Depths <br />and the number of core holes per pad will determine an estimate of holding capacity of sumps/tanks <br />and the need for sump liners, if necessary. They will also be the basis for an estimate of the road use to <br />each pad, duration of occupancy on the pad, amount of any road dirt work, and infrastructure on each <br />pad. Specify for any core drilling the nature and composition of any additives to the drilling fluid and <br />characterize as to toxicity. <br />Response: <br />The Mineral Exploration Drilling Program described in the Plan of Operation does not propose <br />to use core drilling. The drill holes will all be reverse circulation, a drilling method that <br />exploration and mining companies have used on USFS and other Federal lands for many years. <br />We have not contracted the driller at this stage of the project, but it is anticipated that the drill rig <br />will be truck mounted. There will be a second truck and/ or trailer with the drill steel and a <br />portable compressor that will be located near the drill rig. The only water that will be needed is <br />for dust suppression during drilling, so the sumps will be small (approximately 6'x 8'x 4'deep). <br />To minimize the amount of water lost, we plan on lining the sumps with heavy gauge plastic. <br />4. Provide sketch plans with dimensions for each of the 4 pads. Clearly label each site on appropriate <br />maps and Exhibits. The current description references pads AC-2 and AC-7 which differ from the <br />Exhibits. Provide a clear description of each drill pad and any associated surface disturbance. <br />Drilling multiple holes off one pad will likely mean moving the rig a suitable distance from the first <br />hole. Describe the affect on the size of a pad. <br />Response: <br />The drill pads (l, 2, 3 and 4) are shown on the operation plan and each is labeled. Pad 4 will <br />require minimal grading plan after the drill rig arrives on site. Plans are for drilling to be on the <br />road or upper turnaround pad (at the dogleg) in the area shown. The grading for Pad 4 will be a <br />shallow trench across the road for placement of the rear tires of the rig to allow for the front end <br />of the drill rig to be raised by jacks and blocked and or cribbed creating a more stable and safer <br />working platform. Any excess cut material will be transported to a storage area at the northern <br />end of Pad 4. The drill compressor will be placed on the northern end of Pad 4, which will allow <br />it to service both Pad 3 and Pad 4 from a central location, minimizing surface disturbance at Pad <br />3. <br />5. Appendix B (sic), (Exhibit B?) does not show the cited information in the plan. <br />Response: <br />Exhibit B, provides the legal description of the claims that will be explored. We have included <br />both the original description prepared by the registered land surveyors and the map with the plat <br />showing the claims. Also, the claims are marked on the operation plan (Exhibit D) at I"= 200'.