By Caleb Stento

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On Sept. 20, the technical revision to the existing permit was approved to begin refurbishing efforts at the Camp Bird Mine.
According to Bob Larson, a consultant with Monadnock Mineral Services, the project will kick off by excavating the settling pond and diverting the water coming out of the number 14 portal to the pond. This will allow work to commence on re-opening the number 14 portal. Bumper Williams and crew are working with Phil Blackford on the excavation.
“That excavation (for the Portal) will begin at some point. I don’t know an exact time when we’ll start on that because we have some other surface work to do right there: a slab to pour and other work,” Larson said. “Shortly thereafter the excavation will start on the portal.”
Once entrance to the portal is gained, the situation and conditions will be assessed and efforts will go from there.
“We don’t know what the conditions will be when we open that up. It’s a little bit flexible at this point,” Larson commented. “We’ll be moving ahead as quickly and as safely as we can.”
Other projects that have begun include:
• Restoration of the historic buildings. Adam Kunz is in charge of construction. Pam Larson and daughter Kentee Pasek are working with the Caldera Mineral Resources team managing the direction of the restoration work.
• Construction of an 80' X 100' shop building worked on by Elite Welding. Elite Welding will also be fabricating some portal sets used in refurbishing the No. 14 Portal.
• Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) training and oversight are in place. Lezah Saunders is in charge of training and MSHA activities.
“There’s a lot going on…It’ll keep us busy to get that completed before the snow piles up too high there,” Larson concluded.