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999 <br /> SUNNYSIDE GOLD CORPORATION <br /> � <br /> AN ECHO 33"COMPANY Nov 05 <br /> P.O. Box 177 • Silverton, CO 81433 UlllSton0 <br /> //11%r�� 1999 <br /> Phone (970) 387-5533 • Fax (970) 387-5310 �Geolov, <br /> November 2, 1999 <br /> Ms. Sarah Johnson <br /> CDPHE-Assessment Unit <br /> Water Quality Control Division <br /> 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br /> Mail Code: WQCD-Au-B2 <br /> Denver, CO 80246-1530 <br /> Re: Cement Creek Water Treatment <br /> Dear Ms. Johnson: <br /> As a follow-up to our letter to you of May 11, 1999, we have further evaluated the <br /> potential impacts of Cement Creek treatment, or cessation of treatment, on the reference point <br /> A-72. Through the summer of 1999, it did not appear that cessation of treatment had any <br /> negative impact at A-72. <br /> Nevertheless, as indicated in my letter of October 13, 1999 to the Division of Minerals <br /> and Geology, a copy of which I sent to you, late summer and early fall rains in the Cement Creek <br /> basin appear to have created unusual conditions. We are not able to fully characterize those <br /> conditions, or to identify potential causes. Because snowfall will close out the high country at <br /> any time, it does not appear that we will have sufficient data or time this fall to fully evaluate. It <br /> will be next summer before we will have adequate access again. <br /> Conditions this fall in Cement Creek may result from one or a combination of factors. <br /> First,the high precipitation has shown up throughout the basin in a number of seeps and springs <br /> proportionately in excess of prior years. Secondly, it is possible that the water table, following <br /> the filling of the American Tunnel mine pool has simply returned to a level no longer influenced <br /> by a"cone of depression" caused by the mine workings. We may be seeing water, which is not <br /> going through the workings, but is picking up metals and showing an interim impact on Cement <br /> Creek. Finally, although unlikely, there could be an unknown watercourse more directly <br /> connecting the mine pool with Cement Creek. The mine pool levels, as well as the comparative <br /> water qualities, do not yet support that possibility. <br /> Flows in Cement Creek have now dropped back to levels, which can be physically <br /> accommodated in our treatment system, together with the American Tunnel flows. To minimize <br /> impacts on the Animas River, particularly in the event that these results show a"flushing" <br />