2013-04-03_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1983141

Home Browse Search

BLM and the mining claimant. This meeting included discussion to lay the groundwork for moving forward with mining and milling operations and meeting compliance requirements for both CDRMS and BLM. Specific to BLM, it was decided that a Plan of Operations would be formally filed by the Operator upon completion of the upcoming exploration efforts on private land. This action would then prompt BLM to initiate preparation of an Environmental Assessment. This delay was prompted because actual mining and /or milling operations were not currently taking place and the Operator planned to submit a permit boundary change request to CDRMS once exploration data was analyzed. In the interim, BLM planned to initiate the assessment of cultural resources on the BLM surface areas within the permitted mine and mill sites. 2. In September 2010, BLM retained a consultant to begin evaluating the cultural resources within the Operator's CDRMS permitted boundaries. 3. On March 16, 2011, AGC Resources LLC was notified by CDRMS that the proper joint agency financial warranty forms had been received and were being processed. 4. In June 2011, it came to BLM's attention that Aurora Gold Corporation had sold the fully owned subsidiary AGC Resources LLC to Devtek Management Ltd. 5. In December 2011, BLM notified Devtek, Aurora Gold Corporation, AGC Resources LLC and Mark Steen of BLM's determination in accordance with 43 CFR 3809.336 (a) that the Operator has abandoned these operations and bond forfeiture would possibly be pursued. 6. In January 2012, you sent a letter to BLM stating that AGC Resources LLC has absconded and abandoned the Gold Hill Project and, as landowners, the Steen Family Corporations have been left as the sole parties willing to respond to the BLM's concerns. In addition, you requested that BLM forego acting to foreclose against the bonds until you obtained control of these funds. 7. In August 2012, CDRMS approved the succession of operators from AGC Resources LLC to Gold Hill Mines, Inc., which included the newly calculated financial warranty. 8. In November 2012, BLM's consultant completed the evaluation of the cultural resources within the Operator's CDRMS permitted boundaries. As stated in the letter BLM sent in 2011, although the mining and milling operations are permitted and bonded with CDRMS, BLM has no approved Plan of Operations on file and has yet to receive any submittal from Gold Hill Mines, Inc. If you intend to mine and mill at the Gold Hill site, you must first submit a Plan of Operations to BLM. This submittal can be based on the permit documentation in place with CDPHE, but must include all of the items listed on the enclosed Plan of Operations checklist. Upon receipt of this submittal and in accordance with 43 CFR 3809, BLM will then complete an environmental review, as required under NEPA, in order to consider approval of the Plan of Operations.