2016-01-11_INSPECTION - M1988112

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PERMIT #: M-1988-112 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: WHE INSPECTION DATE: November 12, 2015 OBSERVATIONS This inspection occurred as part of the Division's review prucess of a request for acreage rcductiun (AK -U3) for completion of reclamation of /Ib.5ts acres. i he Division's inspection occurred on two separate days; October 6, 2015, and November 12, 2015. Observations tram both days are recorded within this inspectiurr report. The San Cuis Prujuct is a iizd-3 uperation, permitted for the extraction and milling at precious metal are. The permit boundary encompasses approximately 1, /6!:).86 acres, within which the uperatur is approved to affect appruximately 641 acres. ut the 641 acres the uperator had affected approximately 509 acres prior to the cessation of mini rg activities, occurring on or betore November 9, 199b. Since that time the Uperatur has conducted reclamation activities for all attested lands. Attested lands will be reclaimed to support a variety of pust-mining land uses including industrial/commercial, rangeland, and wildlite habitat. The Division holds $7.4 million r financial warranty. This report is accompanied by 12 phutugraphs taken during the inspection. Under AR -U3 the Uperatur requests the release of /1b.58 'acres frum the I,7e5.25b-acr c permit boundary. The lands addressed under AR -03 are divided into three areas as tollows: 1. Area 1 encompasses approximately 437.9 acres, which includes 35 acres ut attested land and 4UZ.9 acres area undisturbed 6y the mining activity. i he 35 at -res affected lands at Area 1 are limited to the Suuth waste Ruck stockpile. 2. Area 2 encompasses approximately 181.6 acres, which insludes 42 acres of affected land at waste Ruck D stUCkpile, several acres of the Mill Area, and approximately 138 acres undisturbed by the mining activity. 3. Area 3 encompasses approximately 9/.U8 acres, which includes z8 acres of affected land at waste Ruck C stuckpilE, ZU acr cs affCLtcd land at East Pit Area, and approximately 49 acres undisturbed by the mining activity. As illustr ated ui r the u, closed phut graphs, affected lands have been graded to mild slopes, not steeper than 3H:1V, which blend with the surrounding native topography. As shown un Phutos Z and 3, during the uctobcr 6'h inspecticin the Divisiun 05erved several minor erosion fcaturEb (gullies) lucatcd on the slopes of the Waste Ruck D stockpile. i he Crusiuln appeared to have occurred prior to the establishment of the protective vegetative cover. Evidence of the healing ut the gullies, resulting tram the establishment of the vegetatiun sutticient to cuntrul erosiun, included a reduced frequency uf gear -vertical cut banks, vegetation establishing within the gullies, and vegetation establishing within the alluvial tan located at the terminus ut the gullies. Subsequent to the October b`h inspection the Uperator repaired the gullies by grading the Erosion r features, diverting upland drainage, and reseeded the areas with the approved reclamation seed mix. The Operator informed the Division of the completion of the gully repair wurR in a currespundense dated uctober z8, ZU15. Theretore, the Division cunducted the second inspectiun on Muvember 1z, z015, to verify the completion of reclamatiun. All bacRtilled and graded areas appeared stable; evidcnLc of settling, slumping or excessive erosion was not u65erved. vcgetativc cover for affected lands was well established, capable of selt-regeneratiun, and at least Equal in extent of cover to the surrounding natural vegetatiurr. I he reclamation vegetation included a variety at grasses, Curbs, shr ups and trees, which exhibited supci iur diversity to the Pinyon/Juniper community in the Page 2 of 3