2011-08-17_REVISION - M1977215 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

IL sot vA J u.a tn, silver Mi vLi vn.gJ of to t ve to tu.re August 15, 2011 Bob Oswald Colorado Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Durango Field Office 691 CR 233, Suite A -2 Durango, CO 81301 RE: Bulldog Mine Permit Ny. M- 1977 -215 Technical Revision TR- 17 L'Temporary Lined Holding Ponds (Pond #1, Pond #2) Dear Mr. Oswald, RIO G IDE. Rio Grande Silver Inc. (RGS) is preparing a Plan of Operations Amendment for the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service). The purpose of this amendment is to set forth the plans to re- enter the Bulldog Mine through a new decline constructed adjacent to the 9360 level, which was the previously- disturbed Homestake Mining Company (Homestake) portal pad and mill site area, located approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the town of Creede, Colorado. See Figure 1, Site Plan Overview. RGS is proposing the construction of two, lined, surface water holding ponds on patented RGS claims to temporarily store ground water encountered during the construction of the new decline. Pond #1 — Located on the Tahrshatha (MS 19302) claim. NE 1/4, SW '/ of Section 25, T42N, R1W. Pond #2 — Located on the 26 contiguous RO, patented MBD Millsite claims. SW '/, SW '/ of Section 36, T42N, R1W. Existing Conditions RGS proposes to develop the new decline with a portal face -up area at the 9400 -foot elevation level, which is 40 feet higher that the Homestake 9360 portal. The new decline will extend for about 1,800 to 2,000 feet at a slight downward angle (approximately 1 %) until it intersects the old Bulldog Mine workings. With this new decline, RGS will not disturb the historic Homestake portal plug, which was installed to prevent water drainage to the surface. As was typical for underground mining operations in the 1960s, Homestake had constructed an incline at an upward angle of approximately 1% to allow gravity water drainage from the mine. 1