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As shown on Map C -5, the Atlas Mine portal discharges water into a surface drainage which enters <br />Sneffels Creek immediately west of the Revenue Pile and immediately east of the Atlas Pile <br />proposed for this permit. This drainage will pass through the permit area without being touched by <br />the operation. This drainage is seen on Map C -1. <br />Prior to the start of the mining operation covered by this permit, the Revenue Mine is discharging <br />water into a pond called the Revenue Pond immediately west of the portal. This pond is man-made <br />and has been in place for approximately 100 years. It is believed that the mine water in the past <br />discharged through a rudimentary spillway located on the western edge of the Pond. This water <br />entered the Atlas drainage, which in a short distance entered Sneffels Creek. However, since the <br />pond was constructed in old mine waste, and therefore not lined on the bottom, it is believed that <br />the flow now passes through the bottom of the pond and seeps out at the toe of the old waste slope. <br />This seep flows across the low level area in the center of the Revenue Mine area and then into <br />Sneffels Creek. See map C -1. It is believed this seep is the vast majority of the water that <br />discharges from the mine portal. <br />Both Sneffels Creek and the Atlas drainage can freeze on the surface during many winters but some <br />flow likely still occurs in gravels in the stream beds. <br />A major portion of the Revenue tailings /waste pile is in an avalanche path from the mountain to the <br />south of the mine. This path is shown on Map C -4 based on John Trujillo's' experience, who is the <br />geologist for the mine and has been involved with the property for many years. In most years, an <br />avalanche crosses the existing Revenue Pond and reaches across Sneffels Creek. SMO plans to <br />shoot down avalanches if they pose a threat to the operation but activity in this path can only take <br />place during safe conditions. <br />4.2 Surface Water Monitoring <br />The monitoring of the surface water regime at the Revenue Mine will be via four surface water <br />sample points. They are all shown on Maps C -1 and G -1, and described below. <br />Revenue Mine August 2012 G -12 <br />