Elizabeth Mine Community Advisory Group Meeting

Barrett Hall, South Strafford, VT

May 12, 2004

Meeting Summary

Approved January 17, 2005

Attendees:

EMCAG Members and Alternates Present: Deby Botelho, Kay Campbell, Jim Condict, Linda Cook, Tom Essex, John Freitag, Neal Meglathery, Scott Stokoe, Bob Walker and Steve Willbanks

VT Agency of Natural Resources: George Desch, Jim Ryan and John Schmeltzer

EPA: Ed Hathaway, Bill Lovely and Steve Novick

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Scott Acone, Steve Umbrell and Claudia Nissley

URS: Jason Clere, Chris Hatton and Marcel Guay

Conti Construction: Tim Nichols

State Historic Preservation Office: Giovanna Pebbles

Copperas Hill Coalition: Lori Barg, Anne Clift, Dick McGaw, and Fred Moody

Adamant Accord: Cindy Cook, Facilitator

EPA Site Update

Ed Hathaway presented an update of site activities. This update addressed the diversion pipe, inlet elevation and pond levels, buttress construction, construction sequencing and activities, truck traffic, acid shock, iron floc, vegetation, borrow pit configuration, sedimentation and erosion control, tailing pile stability, RI/FS schedule, an Innovative Technology Possibility, and a response to major TAG issues.

Chris Hatton commented that there is no relationship between the pond level on TP-1 and the stability of TP-1. The project team will limit the potential for acid shock to the West Branch by only having one acre open at a time and by applying lime to disturbed areas of unoxidized tailing. He does not believe that acid creep—capillary action leading to acid moving upward in the tailing—will be a problem at the site. Chris acknowledged that it’s very important to get vegetation growing to help stabalize slopes.

Ed noted that EPA has spent approximately $9 Million to date.

Kay Campbell requested that the traffic flaggers use flags. The limited trucks that traveled through South Strafford village did so during construction startup.

A copy of Ed’s presentation is attached.

Historic Preservation Fact Sheet

Ed Hathaway distributed a fact sheet regarding historic preservation, and Giovanna Pebbles announced that the new State Historic Preservation Officer is Jane Lendway.

Copperas Hill Coalition (CHC) Update and TAG Advisors’ Comments

Fred Moody reported that the CHC has received two $50,000 grants to review and comment on EPA materials. The CHC currently has four consultants: Lori Barg, Anne Clift, Dick Mcgaw and Jesse Kendall. The CHC has spent $62,000 to date. The original grant expires on June 30, the CHC has requested a two-year extension. Fred noted that TAG grant rules do not allow TGA advisors to conduct independent studies. Dick McGaw reiterated his concerns regarding the disruption of timbers that are part of the trestle dam on the face of TP-1.

Lori Barg gave a presentation regarding the concerns of the TAG advisors. These include: the location of the borrow area, regrading of TP-1, water quality and pond size, acid shock during construction, the location of the sedimentation basin, iron clogging, erosion control, use of local borrow and groundwater flow at the borrow site. A copy of Lori’s presentation is attached.

Review of September 24 and January 28 Meeting Summaries

The September 24, 2003 and January 28, 2004 meeting summaries were reviewed and approved.

Election of Officers

The following officers were elected, for terms beginning June 12, 2004:

Linda Cook, Chair,

John Freitag, Vice Chair,

Gwenda Smith, Secretary, and

Deby Botelho, Treasurer.

Next Meeting Date

The next EMCAG meeting was set for July 21.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00 PM.