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Report <br /> Geotechnical Reconnaissance <br /> Idaho Mine Access Road <br /> Durango, Colorado <br /> Prepared by R Squared, Inc. <br /> John Erich Rauber-Colorado P.E. #26647 <br /> May 29, 2010 <br /> Introduction <br /> This report presents the results of a geotechnical reconnaissance performed at the May Day and <br /> Idaho Mines (the mines) near Durango. On May 22, 2010, R2 Inc. performed a reconnaissance <br /> to evaluate the stability of an approximate 500 foot long section of the access road constructed <br /> on a steep hillside adjacent to a river ("the road"). We understand the purpose of the road is to <br /> provide temporary private access to the mine. Vehicular traffic on the road will be infrequent, <br /> and, other than an occasional concrete truck or the like, be limited to passenger cars and pickup <br /> trucks. A plan view of the road alignment is shown in Figure 1. The reconnaissance was <br /> performed with the aid of a backhoe operated by Mr. Tom Mossa. <br /> Background <br /> Mr. Mossa indicated that he had participated in the original construction of the road. According <br /> to Mr. Mossa, the road was constructed 2 years ago to provide access to the mines. State and <br /> County regulators are concerned about the stability of the road. During a May 20th telephone <br /> conversation, Mr. Allen Sorenson of Colorado Department of Reclamation Mining and Safety <br /> (CDRMS) indicated his primary concerns include (1) the quality, thickness, and degree of <br /> compaction of the road fill material, and (2) the stability of the existing timber retaining wall on <br /> the outboard side of a portion of the road. Mr. Paul Martin (Colorado P.E.), during a brief <br /> telephone conversation on May 21't, indicated the road was never completed; as-built drawings <br /> prepared by Sakura Engineering, dated October 20, 2009 (the as-built drawings), show existing <br /> conditions as of October 9th only. Mr. Martin further indicated that he was performing sand cone <br /> density tests along the road, and collecting samples on which compaction tests and fill <br /> classification tests will be performed. The results of these efforts will be provided to R2 along <br /> with his conclusions regarding the stability of the road. I received a copy of a copy of Mr. <br /> Martin's report, dated May 26, 2010 (the May 26th report). <br /> May 30, 2010 <br />