1995-02-14_REVISION - M1988112

• Permit No: M1988112
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 2/14/1995
• Doc Name: SAN LUIS PROJECT PN M-88-112
• From: DMG
• To: BATTLE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES INC
• Type & Sequence: TR6
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Depanment o! Natural Resources
1313 Sherman 51., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAJ(: 1303) 832-8106
February 14, 1995
II~~~
DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL
RESOURCES
Ms. Alma Scott Roy Romer

Battle Mountain Resources, Inc. Govermr

P
Box 310
O (amen s. E«hhead
.
. Executive Director
San LUIS, CO 81152-0310 Michael s. Long
Division Director
RE: San Luis Project, Peruut No. M-88-112 ~ 2,0~
Dear Ms. Scott:
As we previously discussed, the Division received a call from Mr. Maclovio M4rtinez in
October, 1994 regarding his concerns that too many water samples from the San Luis Project
are "contaminated with cyanide". Ms. Nora Jacquez and Mr. Roger Flynn stopQed by the
Division office to express their concerns too. As a result, the Division reviewed all of the
bi-weekly and quarterly water monitoring reports on file dating from September 4, 1992 to
December 20, 1994. There are four (4) instances where cyanide was reported to have been
detected (Core Labs reports). A sample collected on February 3, 1993 at the R$-5
(Rito Seco) station was reported to contain .03 mg/L total cyanide (< .02 mglL, WAD
cyanide). A sample collected on February S, 1993 at the M-9 monitoring well Was reported
to contain .03 mg/L WAD cyanide (< .02 mg/L total cyanide). A sample collected on
September 16, 1993 at the M-13 monitoring well was reported to contain .04 m~/L total
cyanide (< .02 mg/L WAD cyanide). A sample collected at the RS-5 station on
May 27, 1994 was reported to contain .09 mg/L total cyanide (< .02 mg/L WAp cyanide).
The reported results for samples collected during 1993 at RS-S, M-9, and M-13 8re within
the standard deviation range (margin of error) for the detection precision of the IJ.ab
equipment so, therefore, the Division does not consider that these reported elevattd levels of
cyanide are valid. The reported detection of cyanide in the May 27, 1994 RS-S Sample is
anomalous. It is 2.25 times greater than EPA's established Practical Quantitation Levels
(PQL's) but, since no WAD cyanide was detected, it too is probably not valid. After
completing a thorough investigation of the situation, the cause of the possible cyatride
detection was never established. Any theory would be pure speculation. As the records
show, no detection of cyanide ever occurred prior to, or since, May 27, 1994 at the RS-S
station.
In order to eliminate, or reduce, possible causes of false cyanide detections at the
San Luis Project monitoring stations and, also, to assure the local citizens that BMRI is not
concealing a problem, two actions were initiated. BMRI was notified by letter on
November 7, 1994 [o strictly follow the quality assurance/quality control protocol for water