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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(J2 2006

ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION ~.--

f",_:...........

Environmental Protection

NOV0 2 2006

BAPC I ('~ ~ ~

October 31, 2006

Mr. Mike Elges

Bureau Chief

Bureau of Air Pollution Control

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection

901 South Stewart Street

Suite 4001

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 for the mercury Operating

Permit to Construct, we noticed that seven cupel furnaces in the RMGC Assay Lab ( See page 24 of 44)

were not explicitly identified in the listing of thermal units that emit mercury. These furnaces are located

as follows:

. Five cupel furnaces in the Bismuth Fire Assay Area (Emission Unit # NP1.008), and

Two cupel ovens in the High Grade Room (Emission Unit # NPl.Ol1. .

However, the estimated potential to emit associated with these units was captured in the questionnaire, as

the Assay Lab was described as one process, with combined estimated actual emissions ofO.O17lb

mercury/year, (2004) based upon a mass balance that considered the mean concentration of mercury in

the ore and carbon samplesthat are processed in the Lab.

Additionally, the operating temperature of the East Electric Sludge Drying Oven in the Refinery (See

page 22 of 44) has been revised from 5000F to 2500F.

Finally, the ownership information on page 2 of 44 has been corrected.

The amended questionnaire is attached.

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If you have questions or require further infonnation, please contact Gina Myers at 775-377-3205.

;:: f?;/ William B. Goodhard

Vice President and General Manager
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 is jointly owned by subsidiaries of

Kinross Gold Corporation (50%) and Barrick Gold Corporation (50%).

3. Facilit.Y...!!l!erationInformation:

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 of 44
1.

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 copy for each such unit.)

a. Description: East dryer is used for drying mill concentrates and scrubber solids.

and operates at 2500 F with overnight drying. The west dryer handles the

electrowinning sludge/cathode material mixture and operates at 280 F with 3-7 day

drying time. Both dryers vent to atmosphere. The dried sludges are processed in the

electric induction furnace.

2. An estimate of the actual mercury air emissions released from such unit and the basis of

such estimate, in accordance with the following hierarchy of data:

. 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 code numbers for the type of air pollution control device and the type of fume

capture system used:

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 44
1.

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 copy for 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 vent to atmosphere. The (8)

furnaces process the dried drill hole samples and operate at 1.800-2.000 F. The five

cupel furnaces separate the dore beads from the bismuth and operate at a temperature

of 1.800- 2.000 F. The furnaces vent to the lab fume hood wet scrubbers.

High Grade Area: The dryers handle carbon and pulp samples from the mill. The

dryer vents to atmosphere. The (2) furnaces process the dried samples and vent to the

lab fume hood wet scrubbers. The two cupel furnaces separate the dore beads from

the bismuthandoperateat a temperatureof 1.800- 2.000 F. The cupel furnaces vent

to the lab fume hood wet scrubbers.

An estimate of the actual mercury air emissions released from such unit and the basis of

such estimate, in accordance with the following hierarchy of data:

. 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 for the type of air pollution control device and the type of fume

capture system used: (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

Page 24 of 44