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REVETT MINERALS geotechnical and geochemical testing would take place. We would also be look- ing at water quality." Part of the permit- ting process includes a two-stage water treatment plant for the Evaluation Adit. Then the plant would serve the full blown operation assuming it is approved. "The drift is fairly long for a bankable feasibility study," Miller said. "If we were going to fund it up front, we would not do that. In our case, it's tied to our operating permit so that they can evalu- ate the rock characteristics and water quality issues." Rock Creek will have rock characteris- tics that are virtually identical to the Troy mine, Erickson explained. "Now that we have started drilling in the A, C and I Beds. It's apparent that we would be mining in the exact same horizon," Erickson said. "The mining and milling operations would be very similar. Rock Creek would have the water treatment facility. We are considering a paste tail- ings disposal system. We would simply recover the vast majority of the water prior to deposition." As proposed, the Rock Creek mining complex would disturb eight acres for the Mine Manager Bruce Clark inspects the primary crushing installation underground. mine site, 31 acres for the proposed mill site, and 368 acres for the tailings impoundment."For Phase 1, we would have a support facility with an office," Erickson said. "A core storage building has already been established." The site has power and transformers. The mine will have a number of buffer zones and safeguards for surface waters and outcrops. The Clark Fork River is about 2,000 ft from the pro- posed Rock Creek tailings impoundment. The permits would include a whole pack- age of environmental protection and mitigation procedures. For the Phase 1 Evaluation Adit, Revett has estimated cost of $2.6 mil- lion for the reclamation bond, $2.5 mil- www.e-mj.com JUNE 2012 • E&MJ; 71