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PAULSEN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Weseley W. Paulsen MINING ENGINEER AND GEOLOGIST INC.
California -Consulting Engineer No. 39 r Telephone: 19161 823.5479
Reg. Geologist No. 917 P.O: Box 225
Cert. Eng. Geologist No. 351 Auburn, California 95603
Nevada - Reg. Professional Eng. No. 2178
May 11,1982
Mr. Ron Logan
4095 Dry Creek Road
:Oroville, California 95965 Re: -Mining Permit and Reclamation
. Plan,..A,P. 41-08-27 Hydrologic
Dear Mr. Logan,effects, Geological Conditions,
This letter reports on my hydrologic and geologic investigations..
as well as studies relative to your. proposed mining operations,
and reclamation plan on your property. The location of the property
is shown, on the enclosed map, and is described as the Wh of the
south W; of the SEI -4 of section 1 T21N, R3E, MDB & M. Geologic and
.hydrologic data are expressed as'well on the map, and sections.
I have copies of your proposed mining plan and, reclamation plan
and I have examined the mine area as well as relative adjacent areas., I.
• The following geologic conditions occur at.the mine site and are -
relative to the regional geology and hydrology.
1. The mining operation will,be in tertiary auriferous channel
which.is part of the new era formation and lies on Mariposa
slate.
2. Your west property line is probably no.more than 100 feet west of
the upper contact between the auiferous gravels and the'base of the
Tuscan formation. Even if you'should establish a 1 to 1 slope
from the base of the of your mining.excavation to the property
line you would intersect less than 1/10th of the 1% pf the Tuscan
section in the ridge to the west.
3. The rim of the main channel passes some 150 feet north of your
south property line and tre�ds•some 65 degrees west of the
south. This is the main channel i.n the auriferous gravels.
There may be additional smaller channels south to the property
line.
4. Southward from your south property line -, the. auriferious
channel is transitional to the new era.formation which under-
�ED GC i s the Tuscan formation..- The contact between these two
ations is generally between the 800 and 900 footelevation.
c urs. The new era formation is very poorly permeable, wells
cL be drilled into it give extremely poor yields and the sand -
e MESSLEYW.PAULI siltstone and conglomerate are well compacted and partially
N.,,, 917 ce a �ed.
Water Supply -.Ground Water Development - Engineering Structures -.Agriculture - Slope Stability & Other Geologic Hazards
Drainage • Brine Hydrology - Electric Logging - Mining - Environmental Geology
Members: Association of Engineering Geologists - National Water Well Association.
• '. :.moo- .
PAULSEN RESEARCH &. DEVELOPMENT
or Lo::
Loan :iM :`ydrolo6y and Geology pale 2
:5: .The extremely low permeability of the auriferous•chann.el.
on your property is'indicated by the following conditions
observed.
a. The flow from the tunnels on the site even after a
winter of much above normalrainfall is only in:the order
of .1 to 2 .gpm • .
b. :Springs occur only at the top 'of the' :auriferous channel:.,.
at 'ahe Contact with. th-e Tuscan formation..
c. ..11here .physically :observed in . the tunnels and cuts on
.. _:.
your property the -conglomerate and sandstone .of the .channel
are well compacted and partially cemented causing them` to:
be very poorly permeable.
6. The Tuscan formation:,overlying the auriferous gravels and
the Nbw Era formation is.'the primary water producing formation
of th.e area. This forrriati:on consists of sand., sandstone,
sand and gravel, conglomerate, .silt :and slItstone, all inter-
• layered with severely jointed tuff breccia mudflow beds.
The slope ( dip) of the Tuscan formation in this 'area .2.s.,
Jess than to to the southwest :as measured by myself and
by: -r. Robert Scott Creely and shown in his report "Geology '
of the Oroville, Quadrangle." The apparent dip along the
line of the ridge west of Dry Creek (:°!!organ Ridge) is very
very flat. Ground water will normally. move dotim dip, thus
ground water entering this formation would. normally not be
expected. to move anywhere but to,the Soiitrwest. This is
indicated by the many springs in canyons to the west.
The many springs observed and in use along the west side of
Dry Creek Canyon are at the apparent contact between the Tuscan
formation and the Ne1,V. Era Forma -ion. These springs are net
contiiiuo.us along the,contact but occur mostly at small ravines.
none of these surings appear to be large havilag yields only .in
thi- order of 1 to 2 gpm. L•'xceptio:_al springs such as on the
southern edge of your property have yields in the order of
10 '`
7. Springs.appear to ,.occur only at the contact.'between
the Tuscan formation and the underlying less permeable
New Era formation at elevations between 800 and 900 ft.
on the.west side of Dry Creek Canyon.
7 WESSLEY W. FAU
No. 917
0 f C F`►.
Springs on the -Loran property. These springs are no
erent than other springs at the Tuscan -New Era Contact.
flow of these springs is now largely masked by heavy
s and brush growth in the spring areas: Spring flows
to 10 gpm are apparent.
:)-N o significant spm Ings were fou-nd below the ?'uscan
E.ra contact.
• \�1 PAULSEN RESEARCH &DEVELOPMENT
Logan .'g ine:_ydrology and Jeolo�;;,� pa`e 3
Conclusions.
L. ..It is my .opinion 'that springs along; the vest side
of -G.' -Dry Creek Canyon are .the result of local .recharge
o:n... the edges of the. Tuscan formation, s.urf.acing at .the
Tuscan -New, Era Contact.
2. The .mining operations of the proposed. Logan -Min'
operation.will .at the most intersect .practically none
of -the• Tuscan. formation, thus ':it can have no practical
effect , on:.ground water flow. ._:.down Morgan .ridge .'y_en: if
it were `a *significant .contributor to springs down ' carryon
from. the Logan 'Mine.
J. The reclaimed sand and gravel: and silt from the
Logan Kine operations will have gore.permeability than
the' existing is place auriferous. gravels.. -Thi:'s -wiill
allow water from the ..Tuscan-1iew ..gra contact :_springs
to penetrate :more d:ir:ectly downward.,. --This :wat.er will
percolate downward to. the Mariposaslate .contact. -and .
.. then outward 'to 'Dry Creek with much less dimunition by
evapo=transpiration of vegetation as now -.exists. ..This
gain .in water from less.evapo=transpiration will accrue.
'to the flow of Dry Creek.
4. It is my opinion that the-operation.of 'the Logan Mine
will have no effect whatever upon springs south of the
south line of the Logan Property in Dry Creek Canyon.
5. It is also my opinion that'due to the relatively
impermeable Jariposa Formation in Dry Creek Canyon from.
1 mile above the Lof'an Propeety to 2 miles below. th.e
property that the oaeration of the Logan --.line will have
absolutely no effect on springs on the east side of
Dry Creek Canyon.
Your very truly, %�
vel ssle Paulsen
e y .
D GEG�
0
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WESSLEY W.PAULSEN
No. 917
sf9lE F���`Q
Of CAL\/
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Page l of 1
Thistlethwaite, Charles
From: Thomas, Chris
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 8:46 -AM
To: Thistlethwaite, Charles
Subject: FW: New Era Mine - Contract Addendum Follow-up
Chuck, the operators brought in the $1,740 for the New Era Mine inspection on Friday.
Chris
From: Scott Friend [maiito:SFriend@PMCWorid.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:50 PM
To: Thistlethwaite, Charles
Cc: Thomas, Chris; Nash Gonzalez
Subject: New Era Mine -'Contract Addendum, Follow-up
Chuck,
Good evening. I wanted to follow-up on the email'that l sent earlier this week concerning the New Era Mine and.
the check on the status of the revised contract services proposal that PMC provided to the County to provide
SMARA services on this mine. My reason for being so "pushy" on this is that l believe that Chris and Nash are
scheduled to inspect the facility on Wednesday.of next week. That being the case, I need, to have authorization or
approval of our proposal from the, County prior to the inspection.
Also, assuming that the contract Is approved and we do attend and undertake the inspection on Wednesday, I
might suggest that in addition to Chris, that you (Chuck) or Pete additionally attend the inspection on the County's
behalf. My rationale for this request is that due to the failure of the mine to have been inspected in past years,
and due to the potential for strong "input" on this matter from OMR, it might be beneficial for all parties Involved to
have a Senior -level manager involved in..this project. While I don't intend to Induce shivers and shakes, I think
both of your Yuba County mining experiences.: (i.e. difficult circumstances involving SMARA and a mine) may
come into play on this project.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Scott Friend, AICP
PMC - Chico
530-894-3469
sfrlendQ)pmcworid.com
Butte County Department of Development Services
TIM SNELLINGS,,DIRECTOR I PETE CALARCO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
7 County Center Drive
oroviile, CA 95965.
(530)538.7601 Telephone
(530) 538-7785 Facsimile
www buttecounty.netldds
www butteaeneraiplan ne
ADMINISTRATION' BUILDING' PLANNING
November 20, 2007
Floyd L. Ogle
James F. Noland
New Era Mining Corp.
4095 Dry Creek Road
Oroville, CA 95965
Dear Mr. Ogle and Noland,
Thank you for coming in last week with material regarding the New Era Mine. It and the previous
information you submitted is being reviewed in regards to, Chapter 13, Article 2 of the Butte County
Code (Mining) and the State Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA).
It is extremely important that the required annual SMARA inspection be conducted as soon as
possible. The inspection will be conducted by our consultant, Nash Gonzalez of Pacific Municipal
Consultants, who -is available to do the inspection on Wednesday, December 5 at 11:30 A.M.
Please let me know if this date and time worlcs for you. Please note that we will be unable to do the
inspection without receiving the current mining inspection fee deposit of $1,740.00, payable to
Butte County Treasurer. At your earliest convenience, please send or bring this amount care of my.
attention to 7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965..
As the Office of Mine Reclamation requires evidence of an adequate financial assurance mechanism
to be included with the annual inspection, and that financial assurance must be based upon an
annually adjusted cost estimate, please also have a cost estimate prepared as soon as possible.
Sincere,
is
Thomas
Associate Planner
Butte County Department of Development Services
530.538.6706
cthomas(a butteco an .net
c.c. Pete Calarco, Assistant Director
Chuck Thistlethwaite, Planning Manager
00095
Thistlethwalte, Charles
;l
From: Calarco, Pete
Sent: Thursday, January. 17, 2008 10:33 AM,
To: Snellings, Tim; •Thistlethwaite, Charles; dcraig@consrv:ca:gov; Thomas, Chris
Subject: cladfication/correction of my statements
Thank you for meeting yesterday,on the New Era Mine. I need to correct some statements I made during our
brainstorming session after the meeting. Early in our brainstorming session,. I mentioned that the current mining
activity is outside of the boundary of the 1982 rec plan/permit. This may not be the case. Chris Thomas briefed
me further on the file materials and it may be that the Planning Commission approval in 1982 included mining
activities for the entire parcel. At this point, I suggest that we reserve confirmation of this aspect until we research
the file materials further — contrary to what I mentioned earlier in the meeting. Thank you. —pete
Pete Calarco
Assistant Director '
Butte County Development Services '
7 County Center Dr
Oroville CA 95965 ,
(530) 538-2167 '
Page 1 of 1
Thistlethwaite, Charles
From:
Thomas, Chris
Sent:
Friday, December 14, 2007 10:44 AM
To:
Nash Gonzalez
Cc:
Thistlethwalte, Charles; Breedon, Dan .
Subject: New Era
Nash,
Attached are three screen resolution exhibits that are referenced in the 1982 reclamation plan for the New Era.
I'd say the current plan presented to us by Mr. Gales during our site visit substantially deviates from what's
presented in these exhibits. Note especially the phasing exhibit showing expansion over a period of five years.
have photocopied a January 6, 1982 explanatory letter to the Planning Commission from either Mr. Logan or hi
representative In which the cut and cover approach will allow reclamation as the work proceeds: "The mining
operation will proceed by excavating an initial cut (Area W) approximately 100-200 ft., wide by 300 to 400 ft. to
(depending on width of gold bearing gravel.) The topsoil and overburden will be removed, processed in a
washing plant and placed in stockpiles. A second 200 ft. of mine area (B) adjacent to the initial area (A) will be
mined as in the initial area, with the materials removed from area (B) placed to fill in area (A). The area will the
be shaped and top -soil replaced and replanted native to area."
I spoke with Dan about the Idea that the County would have taken Mr. Logan's land as some sort of financial
assurance mechanism in the event he defaulted on -,reclamation — Dan thought it highly unlikely -that the County
would ever engage in such an arrangement. However, I am waiting to hear back from a contact in the Treasurc
Office.
Chris Thomas
Associate Planner
Butte County Department of Development Services.
530.538.6706 (direct)
530.538.7601(office)
530.538.2140 (fax)
000507
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M- Millan, Kim ;
'i From: Snellings, Tim
Sent: Friday, January 18, 200811:03 AM
To Thomas, Chris _ Z
i, subject: RE: New Era: please deft ....
��. Thanks. I look forward to reviewing it and sending It off to buy US a little bit of time. Tim
tj
! From: Thomas; Chris . t
Sent:'Fri 1/18/2008 10:58 AM '
To: Snellings, Tim
Subject: RE: New.Era: please draft ...
Will do, Tim. I'll start on it now and should'have a draft in an hour or to.
Chris` .
'
From: Snellings, Tim
Sent:•Friday, January 18,_2008 10:34 AM - -
To: Thomas, Chris; Calarco, Pete; Thistlethwaite, Charles '
i' Subject: New Era: please draft
u
Chris:
please draft en email for meto send to the guys (and Includestheir.email addresses as 1 -don't have,them with _
me) at New Era Mine_ to give them and us some more time to put together our strategy (that we need to review
with F&G and OMR. 1�knowthat it's not necessary from the perspective of the Notice of Violation. However, there
is whet appears tothem.as a deadline that they are not going to meet and I know that they will be concerned to
go past it without something from us.
z
would suggest that you. include something like 'as a follow up to our meeting on ....where you provided us with
information about the operational history ... our department is still reviewing this information. As a result of your
efforts*to stabilize the site and,provide us this Information, you are hereby granted 15 days for...'
Hopefully, tills makes sense. Feel free to call me at my home office at®' Thanks, Tim
Y _ 000.665
- 2/13/2008. _
,
McMillan, Kim
i
From:: Calarco, Pete
is Sent: Friday, January•11, 2008 5:02 PM
To: Snellings, Tim
Subject: RE: meeting with New Era
You may have a point here. It could be worth out time to double up so they don't shop for answers.
f
From: Snellings, Tim
Sent: Friday, January 11; 2008 4:47. PM
J To: Calarco, Pete
Subject: RE: meeting with New .Era
Lets discuss the best strategy on Monday. I think it possible for: me to be there and for them to NOT be able to.
divide and conquer, but I'm open to discussing it with you... I'm trying to avoid the 'meeting after the ;
i meeting'—when they don't like the answer and then ;want to meet with me ... thanks, Tim
From: Calarco, Pete ,
Sent: Fri 1/11/2008 4:28 PM
To: Snellings, Tim
Subject: meeting with:New Era s ,
Tim, I spoke again with Lee Ogle of New Era Mine.:I have scheduled a meeting for Wed. afternoon to discuss
i their information that would counter the violation letter that we issued. He asked if you were going to be there. l
did not Intend on calendaring you for that in the "divide and conquer" spirit. Let me know if you want to be..there.
He is sensing that I am not very cooperative. I,keep telling him that we are willing to review any materials that he i
as but I also tell him that with my experience, I do not think it is likely that that can produce the required evidence.
—pets
Pete Calarco
Assistant.Director `
Butte County Development Services
7 County Center Dr
Oroville CA 95965
(530) 538-2167 ..
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