Final Draft, Environmental Response Alternatives Analysis Report, Section 5, Figure 5-10, "Conceptual Drawing of Alternative 4." The photographic background of this sheet shows the extent of vegetation cover on the northwest corner of TP-3 in the vicinity of Tyson shafts # 1 and # 2.

Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA), Figure 3-1, "Tailings Pile 3 Elizabeth Mine." This sheet shows the location of High Sulfide Content tailings superimposed over a contour map.

On Figure 3-1, note the former mine road that now serves as the driveway for the Parker property. This road extends south west from Mine Road almost to the north end of the North Cut, passing through the lower fourth of the High Sulfide Content tailings area.

On Figure 5-10, note the extent of vegetative cover. A thick stand of trees and shrubs seem to extend along the downhill side of the former mine road. This vegetation seems to cover the steep area between the former mine road and the lower demarcation line for the High Sulfide Content tailings area.

On Figure 5-10, the upper demarcation line of the High Sulfide Content tailings area is the lower edge of a vegetated area extending all the way up to the Tyson Shaft # 2.

The vegetated area below the former mine road (extension of Parker’s driveway) is very steep.

The lower one-fourth of the High Sulfide Content tailings area of TP-3 is already covered with vegetation.

The High Sulfide Content tailings rise about 20 meters (60 feet) above the former mine road (extension of Parker’s driveway). This area composes about three-fourths of the High Sulfide Content tailings area.

The vegetation already in place on the High Sulfide Content tailings area blocks the view of the barren upper north west portion of TP-3. The barren portions of TP-3 above the former mine road (extension of Parker’s driveway) can not be seen from Copperas Road (Class IV Road) or from Mine Road.

The barren upper north west portion of TP-3 can only be seen well while facing due North, standing high up on TP-3, adjacent to the North Cut.

Cap and isolate the barren High Sulfide Content tailings area above the former mine road (extension of Parker’s driveway).

Collect the uncontaminated surface runoff from the capped area and bypass it to Copperas Brook

Use the upper most membrane anchor trench as a groundwater cutoff trench to lessen the percolation of groundwater under the upper three-fourths of the High Sulfide Content tailings.

Do not disturb the lower one-fourth section of High Sulfide Content tailings or the vegetation below the former mine road (extension of Parker’s driveway).

Three historical features shown on Figure 3-1 might be covered - a timber floor, timber and a ladderway. It may be possible to change the local ground contours around these features to allow each of them to remain exposed.

Construct a bypass channel along the north edge of upper High Sulfide Content tailings of TP-3 to collect the uncontaminated surface water. At Copperas Road (Class IV Road) put this uncontaminated water into a pipe and direct it down to the proposed north diversion channel around TP2 and 1 from which it can eventually enter Copperas Brook.

This capping action would reduce the exposure of the High Sulfide Content tailings area by three-fourths. Thus, greatly reducing the amount of acid mine drainage flowing off the High Sulfide Content tailings area of TP-3 and requiring treatment.

This capping action would have little effect on compromising the visual effect of TP-3 since most of the re-worked area is now and would remain hidden from view.

This capping action would maintain the current vegetation on some of the steepest portions of TP-3. The undisturbed vegetation would act as a screen for the newly capped area.

Along the uphill edge of the former mine road (extension of Parker’s driveway) construct a deep cutoff trench. The downhill side would be lined with a geomembrane. The rest of the trench would be lined with a geotextile filter fabric and then filled with crushed rock. This trench would act as a cutoff for groundwater percolating down slope under the High Sulfide Content tailings. The trench bottom would slope gently downhill parallel to the former mine road where it would intersect the proposed collection channel on the north side of TP-3.

Rather than smooth the High Sulfide Content tailings, I propose that they be benched. Beginning at the top of the slope, at the upper boundary with the current vegetation, a bench would be excavated into the tailings such that the top of the bench was about 8 to 10 feet wide (room enough for an excavator to work) and sloped back into the hill at a 5% slope, while following the contour of the land gently downward parallel to the former mine road.

The work would step down about 8 vertical feet and a second bench would be excavated parallel to the first. All excavated material would be hauled to the top of TP-1 and placed inside a bermed area until it could be properly graded and covered. Only sufficient material would be removed to form the benches. The tailings on the faces of the benches would not be disturbed.

As soon as two benches were configured, the first (upper) bench top and face would be capped. This method of construction would minimize the time for exposure of the tailings should a rain storm hit during construction. In the event of rain, the benches tops would act as wide, shallow swales, directing the surface flow toward the previously installed perimeter diversion ditch.

Whatever capping system is finally chosen for TP-1 and -2, a similar system could be used on the bench tops. The faces, being steeper, might have to be covered with carefully placed riprap or gabions. The entire slope would eventually be capped. However, instead of appearing as a uniform slope, it would appear as a stepped slope.

When the capping and slope benching finishes at the surface of the former mine road (extension of Parker’s driveway), the road itself would also be re-graded with a 5% back slope, capped and topped with a wearing course of stone.

Benching will lessen the tension on the geosynthetic clay liner and the geomembrane, since the heavy cover material on the 10-foot wide back slopes will act as an anchor for the geomembrane on the faces. Benching will also break up the slope making it easier to re-vegetate the back slopes.

The tailings need to be re-graded before a cap can be applied. Re-grading to a uniform slope would simultaneously expose large areas to the weather. Because of the steepness of the surrounding land, it would not be as easy to re-grade in strips as is proposed for TP-1, should it be cut back to a 1V : 3H slope.

If the tailings remain undisturbed below the former mine road, then there is no space for a temporary sedimentation basin. Whereas, benching would allow the regrading and capping to proceed in an orderly fashion on a small portion of the area at a time. Each bench top could become a small temporary sedimentation basin with the addition of silt fencing and hay bales.