OCTOBER 31, 2013, Carson Hill, California— Oro East Mining, Inc. (OTCBB: OROE), a global mines acquisition, exploration, and development group and pioneer in sustainable mining and refinery technologies, announced today that it has submitted by way of its environmental consultant, Dr. Patrick Sullivan, a proposal to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (“Regional Water Board”) and City Council of Calaveras County a plan for reclassifying the mining waste at the WMUs.
The three WMUs at Carson Hill, or three substantial piles of leached ore at an aggregate mine in Carson Hill, California is located on the south side of Highway 49 in the central Sierra foothills of Calaveras County. Back in June 2001 the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (“Regional Water Board”) issued Waste Discharge Requirements (Order No. 5-01-150) that covers the use and management of the leached ore in the WMUs, this order required that:
- Active mining and ore processing other than quarrying and processing of inert materials are prohibited.
- The discharge of wastes containing soluble pollutants, which could cause water quality degradation to ground water or surface water, is prohibited.
- No materials shall be removed from below the standing water level in the bowls of WMU-1, WMU-2, or WMU-3.
- Rock products from the WMUs or overburden piles determined to have leachable concentrations of antimony, mercury, or molybdenum exceeding 0.006 milligrams per liter (mg/l), 0.00005 mg/l, or 0.010 mg/l, respectively shall only be used offsite when placed beneath paved areas or other low permeable material.
- Continued Group “C” mining waste classification5 of overburden and leached ore shall be contingent on confirmation that the discharge is in compliance with applicable water quality control plan, other than for turbidity.
In a letter dated May 3, 2005, the Regional Water Board reclassified the WMUs as Group “B” mining waste per 27 CCR § 22480(b)(2)(B) (Water Board, 2007; Finding 50). The reclassification was performed because the Regional Water Board determined that Site data suggested discharges from these units were causing impacts to water quality.
However, the leached ore in the WMUs still contain gold values and concentrates. The Company is presently working with Sutton Enterprises to reclassify the WMUs as Group “C” mining waste per Title 27.
The objectives of the Company’s environmental reclassification project are as follows:
- Modify existing plants on Sutton Enterprises’ site with froth flotation units to process the leached ore from the WMUs, collect representative samples, and test the said samples
- Produce a geochemical report of the test results that will allow the Regional Water Board to determine whether the processed tailings meet the Title 27 criteria for reclassification to Group “C” mining waste
The success of the reclassification proposal will in large part determine the Company’s goals with respect to the WMUs.
Disclaimer about forward-looking statements. This news release includes “forward-looking statements” as that term within the meaning of securities laws of applicable jurisdictions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond the control of Oro East. These forward- looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this news release, including, without limitation, those regarding future expectations of Oro East. Readers can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “risk,” “should,” “will” or “would” and other similar expressions. Risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause Oro East’s actual results, performance, production or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements (and from past results, performance or achievements). These factors include the failure to complete and commission the mine facilities, processing plant and related infrastructure in the time frame and within estimated costs currently planned; variations in global demand and price for molybdenum and copper; fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Philippine peso; failure to recover the resource and reserve estimates of the Project; the failure of Oro East’s suppliers and service providers to fulfill their obligations under construction, supply and tolling agreements; unforeseen geological, physical or meteorological conditions, natural disasters or cyclones; changes in the regulatory environment, industrial disputes, labor shortages, political and other factors; the inability to obtain additional financing, if required, on commercially suitable terms; and global and regional economic conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.