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/IUG -16 -2013 13:23 From: To:13038328106 Page:2•3 <br />t" Z/Z__ S <br />Dustin Czapla <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br />L/► Mining and Safety <br />101 South 3d Street, Rm 301 <br />Grand Junction, Co 81501 <br />August 16, 2013 <br />Re: White Banks Mine inspection <br />Report and Bond Increase <br />Dear Mr. Czapla: <br />I am the rAmager of Elbram Stone LLC which leases the White Banks mineral <br />claims on Ar valanche Creek that you inspected on July 23, 2013. We wish to <br />protest the increase in the reclamation bond that was noticed on July 31, 2013. <br />Due to the size incrrease in a bond, and the fact we were not notified of the inspection time, <br />nor consulted with at all, we would ask for a hearing before the Board no earlier than <br />October as we need to obtain supporting documentation if the bond cannot be agreed to be <br />set to a more reasonable amount. We have been waiting for approval of a renewed Plan of <br />operations for over 3.5 years from the Forest Service and have been forced to file a lawsuit <br />in federal court. Such an increase in the bond could result in Elbram Stone losing the mine <br />after 20 plus years of government over - regulation. <br />The existing bond of approx. $15,000. was recalculated less than three years ago and the <br />conditions on site have not changed. There have been no additional structures built and no <br />surface activity has occurred other than one piece of equipment on a mobile trailer. We are <br />obtaining estimates of the costs to complete the Reclamation Plan on file and we believe <br />these estimates will come in significantly below $54,000.00. Further, there is equipment <br />currently stored on the surface that will be relocated within 60 days and we have a qualified <br />contractor coming in 10 -14 days to the site to estimate costs to remove the bath house. Thus, <br />these items could be deleted from your calculations. We are also examining the aspects of <br />filing a request for a Temporary Cessation status as we do not know how long it will take <br />the Forest Service to either approve the new Flan of Operations or be ordered to do so by the <br />court. In short, we had no idea the Forest Service would take such an extreme amount of <br />time to approve a plan of operations for a mine with previously good operational history and <br />determined locatable minerals in place. <br />In addition, we did not plan to remove the piles of'rock material on the south side of the road <br />as it is to be used as goad fill for the new road re- route. The bond was increased to cover the <br />cost of the road fill pile. We do plan to relocate the flat -bed trailer and other equipment off <br />the site. These jobs require a site visit by contractors and we need until October 312013 to <br />get these things done and the documents from the contractors. Thus, we would request a 90 <br />day period from July 31, 2013 to have these things done, and thus removed from the <br />