# ~ ROUND MOUNTAIN GOLD CORPORATION Smoky Valley Common Operation P.o. Box 480 Round Mountain, Nevada 89045 Tel: 775-377-2366 Fax: 775-377-3224 

# RECEIVED NOV(J 2 2006

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ~.--

f",_:........... Environmental Protection 

### NOV02 2006

BAPC I ('~

~ ~ October 31, 2006
Mr. Mike Elges Bureau Chief Bureau ofAirPollution Control Nevada Division ofEnvironmentalProtection 901 South Stewart Street Suite4001 Carson City, Nevada 89701-5249 Re: Amended Mercury Questionnaire for Round Mountain Gold Corporation Dear Mr. Elges: As Round Mountain Gold Corporation (RMGC) was preparing its application forthe mercury Operating Permit to Construct, we noticed that sevencupel furnaces in the RMGC Assay Lab ( Seepage 24 of44) were not explicitly identified inthe listing ofthermal units that emitmercury. These furnaces are located as follows:



## . Five cupel furnaces inthe Bismuth Fire Assay Area (EmissionUnit # NP1.008), and Two cupel ovens inthe High Grade Room (EmissionUnit # NPl.Ol1. 

## . However, the estimated potentialto emit associatedwith these units was captured inthe questionnaire, as the Assay Lab was described as oneprocess, with combined estimated actual emissions ofO.O17lb mercury/year, (2004) basedupon amass balancethat consideredthe mean concentration ofmercury in the ore andcarbon samplesthat areprocessed in the Lab. Additionally, the operatingtemperature ofthe EastElectric SludgeDrying Oven in the Refinery (See page 22 of44) has been revised from 5000Fto 2500F. Finally, the ownership informationonpage 2 of44 has been corrected. The amended questionnaire is attached.

--~

-~- ---IIfyou have questions orrequire further infonnation, please contact GinaMyers at 775-377-3205. 

# ;:: f?;/
WilliamB. Goodhard Vice President and GeneralManager

### 2. Facilit.r General Information:
a. Plant-specific facility name: Smoky Valley Common Operation (SVCO) operated by Round Mountain Gold Corporation (RMGC) b. Mailing address: P.O. Box 480

c. Street address or physical location of facility: #1 Smoky Valley Mine Road Round Mountain, NV 89045 d. Longitude and latitude (or UTM coordinates) for primary processing/refinery area: 

### UTM

- 

### N4283528.7 meters, E490914.8 meters (Zone 11,NAD 27)

e. Names and telephone numbers of contact persons who are able to answer technical questions about this questionnaire: Gina Myers, Environmental Manager, 775-377-3205 John Richardson, Environmental Engineer, 775-377-3336 f. Are you a subsidiary or affiliate of another company or other organization? If yes, please provide the name of parent company and/or other organization. Yes. SVCO isjointly owned by subsidiaries of Kinross Gold Corporation (50%) and Barrick Gold Corporation (50%). 

### 3. Facilit.Y...!!l!eration Information:
a. Does the facility process mercury-containing ore (i.e., have detectable concentrations of mercury in the ore)? If no, please provide ore characterization data or other evidence supporting this answer. Mercury is present in ore at detectable levels. Based on 2005 sampling, the range for development drill hole samples (n = 2,884) is <0.010 to 0.360 mg/kg and the average is 0.038 mg/kg. b. Does the facility process ore containing mercury at concentrations of 0.1 mg mercury per kilogram ore (0.1 mg/kg) or higher? If no, please provide ore characterization data or other evidence supporting this Page 2 of441. ANNEX 7. OTHER THERMAL PROCESS UNITSRefinery

- (2) Electric Sludge Drying Ovens Please provide an identification of other thermal process units, including a process description and the mechanism by which mercury emissions are released. (Note: iffacility has more than 1 "other thermal process" process, copy this Annex 7 and complete a separate copyfor each such unit.)
a. Description: East dryeris used for drying mill concentrates and scrubber solids. and operates at 2500F with overnightdrying. The west dryerhandles the electrowinning sludge/cathodematerial mixture and operates at 280 F with 3-7 day drying time. Both dryers ventto atmosphere. The dried sludges areprocessed inthe electric induction furnace. 2. An estimate ofthe actualmercury airemissions released from suchunit and the basis of such estimate, in accordance withthe following hierarchy ofdata:



## . Direct testing and measurement.



## . Based on engineering calculations that take into account the average mercury content of the ore processed, the amount of ore processed and the potential for mercury releases from the specific processes utilized to recover gold.

Estimated mercury emissions from unit = 8.95 pounds for 2004 (total for electrowinning, sludge drying and electric induction furnace. See Annexes 4, 5 and 7

- Induction Furnace.). Basis of estimate: Questions 3.e. and 5. Engineering calculations. See responses to 

### 3. Circle the codenumbers forthetype ofairpollution control device andthe type offume capture systemused: APC device ID no.: Unknown X 1 X 3 No device is used Fabric filter Wet scrubber Carbon adsorption unit 0 1 2 X Fume capture system: None Side-draft or canopy hood Close-fitting hood or direct process vent Other: Total enclosure/power vented 4 Other:

Page 22 of 441.

2.

3. ANNEX 7. OTHER THERMAL PROCESS UNITS 

## - Assay Laboratory/Bismuth Fire Assay Area 

## - (4) Electric Sludge Drying Ovens and (8) Electric Fusion Furnaces and five cupel furnaces Assay Laboratory/High Grade Area 

## - (1) Electric Drying Oven and (2) Electric Fusion Furnaces and two cupel furnaces Please provide an identification of other thermal process units, including a process description and the mechanism by which mercury emissions are released. (Note: iffacility has more than 1 "other thermal process" process, copy this Annex 7 and complete a separate copyfor each such unit.)
a. Description: Bismuth Fire Assav Area: The (4) dryers handle development drill hole (ore) samples and operate at 350 F. The dryers ventto atmosphere. The (8) furnaces process the dried drillhole samples and operate at 1.800-2.000F. The five cupel furnaces separatethe dorebeads fromthe bismuth and operate at atemperature of 1.800

- 2.000 F. The furnaces ventto the lab fume hood wet scrubbers. High Grade Area: The dryers handle carbon andpulp samples from the mill. The dryer vents to atmosphere. The (2) furnaces process the dried samples and ventto the lab fume hood wet scrubbers. Thetwo cupel furnaces separatethe dore beads from 

### thebismuthandoperateatatemperature of 1.800

- 2.000 F. The cupel furnaces vent to the lab fume hood wet scrubbers. An estimate ofthe actual mercury air emissions released from suchunit and the basis of such estimate, in accordance withthe following hierarchy ofdata:



## . Direct testing and measurement.



## . Based on engineering calculations that take into account the average mercury content of the ore processed, the amount of ore processed and the potential for mercury releases from the specific processes utilized to recover gold.

Estimated mercury emissions from unit = 0.017 pounds for 2004 Basis of estimate: See attached Assay Laboratory memo.

Circle the code numbers forthe type ofairpollution control device and the type of fume capture systemused: (10) Furnaces APC device ID no.: Unknown 0 1 X 3 4 No device is used Fabric filter Wet scrubber Carbon adsorption unit Other: Fume capture system: None Side-draft or canopy hood Close-fitting hood or direct process vent Other: 0 1 X 3
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