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AUGUST 8, 2011 <br />MAY DAY MINE CLASS II - SUBMITTAL 2 REVIEW <br />PAGE 2 OF 15 <br />ore at May Day Level 1. The milling process uses chemicals and water to leach gold and silver from <br />the ore. Tailings waste is proposed to be dewatered and buried back in the mined areas from which <br />it was extracted, assuming these areas can be demonstrated to be dry. <br />B. Access <br />A single point of access and egress is proposed. The access is proposed via a private road on an <br />adjacent landowner's parcel (i.e.: the new, unpermitted road), across the La Plata River bridge, and <br />then up a historic mine access road to the mine complex. The new, unpermitted portion is <br />understood to have grades of 12 -15% and the historic portion is understood to have grades of <br />greater than 15 %. <br />The project is proposed to be supported by up to 15 employees who will access the site via the <br />aforementioned roads. Due to the steep grade, narrow width, hairpin curves, and inability to provide <br />pullouts (for passing vehicles / emergency services), the applicant is prosing to have a staging area <br />immediately off of CR 124 where employees will park and transfer to ATV's for transport to the <br />mine site. <br />Fort Lewis Mesa Fire District can provide services on roads with grades of up to 12% (allowing <br />short runs of up to 15 %, based on alignment and sun exposure) with road pullouts to allow for <br />passing vehicles. To avoid constructing to these standards, the applicant proposes to have an <br />alterative Emergency Management and Response Plan that would provide for specialized services <br />(helicopter, etc) for emergency services at the mine and to the staging area near CR 124, at which <br />point Fort Lewis Mesa Fire District would take over. A detailed Emergency Management and <br />Response Plan from the applicant needs to be provided to and accepted by county emergency <br />services, county planning, and Fort Lewis Mesa Fire District in order for a road not accessible by <br />Fort Lewis Mesa Fire District to be accepted. <br />The applicant indicates in the Mining Plan dated 4.14.2011 (Exhibit D) that a portalet will be <br />provided at the May Day Level 2 staging area. It is not indicated whether this will be a standard <br />portalet, requiring service by a pumping truck, or whether it will be an alternative design such that <br />the mine area would not need to be visited by a pumping truck. Resolution of this issue will impact <br />the design use for the access road. <br />Other services that will be needed at the mine site include construction material, chemical and fuel <br />delivery. A description of how these services will be provided at the site is still needed. As <br />discussed in all three planning engineering letters, the applicant needs to provide a clear outline of <br />design uses and loads for the access road. <br />C. Sanitary (Sewer) <br />The applicant is proposing portalets at two locations — the staging area near CR 124 and the staging <br />area at the mine complex near May Day Level 2. It is assumed the CR 124 portalets will be <br />maintained by periodic pumping. Information is needed from the application regarding operation of <br />the portalet proposed for the mine site as this is directly related to design uses of the access road. <br />The overall sanitary management plan will be reviewed and permitted by San Juan Basin Health. <br />At this point, SJBH reports that an application has been received for portalets at the CR 124 staging <br />area but that a permit has not been issued and sanitary service at the May Day Level 2 has not yet <br />been addressed. <br />PLANNING DEPARTMENT • 970.382.6263. • 1060 E. 2ND AVE. • DURANGO, COLORADO • 81301 <br />