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Figure 2 is a composite topographic and aerial map of NSI's area of operations with the process plant, <br />solution water pipelines, storage tanks and storage areas for commercial product indicated. NSI's <br />evaporation ponds are indicated on Figure 2. The smaller pond to the south is used to hold the aqueous <br />process fluid, when necessary and is capable of pumping process fluid back to the process plant for <br />reinjection into the mining interval. The larger pond is used to contain stormwater, plant and <br />equipment rinse water and aqueous cooling tower and boiler blowdown fluids, as necessary. The ponds <br />have a double liner system separated by drainage netting with a sump and pump system. <br />Nahcolite (naturally occurring sodium bicarbonate) exists beneath the ground surface within most to all <br />of NSI's lease area. Please refer to NSI'S 2010 Mine Plan, Figure 2 -1 for a map of NSI's lease area. <br />NSI's sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) product is commercially, in situ mined by way of heated water, <br />from between the approximate depths of 2,000 and 3,000 feet below NSI's area of operations. This <br />sodium bicarbonate, aqueous solution, is pumped to the surface within a carbon steel, cased well and to <br />the plant within a carbon steel pipeline. Refer to Figure 2 for pipeline locations. NSI plant operations <br />recrystallize the sodium bicarbonate out of the aqueous solution through a series of crystallization tanks <br />which cool the aqueous solution and precipitate out sodium bicarbonate crystals. After drying and <br />screening operations the sodium bicarbonate product is bagged and warehoused, stored in product silos <br />or in a storage dome to await shipment. A tank farm and ponds near the plant are also locations which <br />may contain sodium bicarbonate and or the aqueous process fluids. Figure 2 indicates the locations of <br />the plant, ponds, storage dome and tank farm. <br />(3) Environmental Protection Measures Required by Other Agencies <br />The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owns the land and is therefore the <br />primary regulatory agency. The BLM has issued federal mineral leases to NSI for the extraction of <br />sodium minerals. The BLM conducted the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from which the Record <br />of Decision (ROD) was written. The ROD mandates environmental monitoring and reclamation <br />activities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assumes responsibility for protecting <br />Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDW) through the regulation and permitting of underground <br />injection. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulates, permits and <br />monitors factors affecting air quality and stormwater management. Rio Blanco County permits NSI's <br />septic system, road spurs which tie into County Road 31 and any temporary living quarters. <br />The BLM areas of oversight are pursuant to Lease issuance and maintenance and include guidance and <br />permitting activities for the construction of evaporation ponds and production and monitoring wells. <br />Monitoring activities mandated by the BLM include ground and surface water quality, surface and <br />subsurface subsidence and wildlife monitoring to include raptor nesting /breeding activities, deer winter <br />range augmentation and deer /elk road kill monitoring. Paleontological resource inventories are <br />required prior to development in new areas. Reclamation methodology and monitoring is also dictated <br />by the BLM. <br />The EPA area of oversight concerning NSI's solution mining operations entails permitting activities <br />related to the required Underground Injection Control (UIC) permits. NSI's UIC permits state maximum <br />allowable injection pressures and temperatures as well as injection intervals. UIC permits also contain <br />information on confining intervals above and below the injection interval and define aquifers which are <br />to be protected. These UIC permits state well construction, Periodic Mechanical Integrity (MIT) testing <br />and plugging and abandonment requirements. Groundwater monitoring as well surface and subsurface <br />monitoring requirements are also indicated in NSI's UIC permits. <br />Daub & Associates, Inc. NSI 2012 EPP <br />Page 4 <br />