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)Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: nn_ta~~_egt <br />INSPECTION DATE: 7/Ei/0-S INSPECTORS INITIALS: ~_ <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was performed in response to a notice from Cotter Corporation mceived by the Division <br />of Minerals and Geology on June 27, 2005, in which Cotter Corporation informed the Division of their <br />intention to resume mining. Present at the inspection were Kate Pickford and Wally Erickson, DMG, and <br />Dick White, Cotter Corporation. Weather at the time of the inspection was clear, calm, and <br />approximately 80 degrees. <br />2. This permitted area contains two separate sites. The first site is the location of past mining activity. The <br />area consists of approximately two acres containing a closed portal and a pile of dump material. Mr. <br />White stated that a new survey was conducted at the site and the results of the survey indicate that the <br />disturbance does noT coincide with the permit boundary. Some legal descriptions are not coinciding <br />with the acreages on existing maps. Mr. White indicated that this issue was going to be addressed. <br />3. The dump pile at the first site has a fairly well established vegetative cover. Sorcie thistle and knapweed <br />are present on the access road to this area and are present in small quantities on and around the dump <br />pile itself. Mr. White indicated that Cotter Corporation has been conducting aggressive weed control <br />management at the site, and they typically spray for knapweed in September c7s they have found this <br />to be the most effective time to incorporate control measures for this weed. Ct~eetgrass is present, but <br />there is awell-established population of perennial grasses at the site as well. Mr. White was advised that <br />this portion of the site may be adequate for release once the weeds have beers treated this September, <br />and that Cotter Corporation may be in a position to request a release of this arc=a in the fall of this year <br />or the spring of next year. <br />4. This portion of the site is surrounded by other historical mining disturbance to the east. According to Mr. <br />White there are 30 to 40 separate disturbed areas related to mining associated with the Delany Group. <br />All of these disturbances are located outside of the permit boundary. <br />5. The second portion of the permit is currently undisturbed ground. This portion consists of 1 1.3 acres <br />located on a sloped area with pinion juniper vegetation. A dozer will be used to clear the site of <br />vegetation, and the vegetation will be serve as a border around the perimeter of the site. Topsoil will be <br />reserved downhill from the area being actively mined. The area inside of the vegetative border will <br />eventually become a waste dump for material that is excavated from the porteal. The dead vegetation <br />will serve as wildlife habitat (already approved by DOW), and this barrier of dead vegetation will also <br />serve as a filter for sheet flow resulting from precipitation on the site. <br />6. The mining plan for the site is to open up a portal and start the waste dump pile: until an area is <br />backfilled to establish a large enough site for the construction of buildings. The portal will have <br />approximately a 10-foot highwall at the cut face and a decline of 1,380 feet bc;fore the ore material is <br />accessed, As mining continues, approximately 6 acres of the site will be covered with waste dump <br />material. None of the waste material will be dumped into drainages. A trench will be dug along the <br />upper boundary to divert runoff to the draw. <br />The final slopes of the waste pile will not be steeper than 2H:1 V. The surface of the pile will be <br />undulating, as specified by Department of Energy standards. Topsoil will be re~rlaced over the waste <br />dump material. The dead vegetation that was used to border the site will be redistributed on the waste <br />dump pile surface during reclamation. <br />8. This site has the potential for qualifying for DMO status. Cotter Corporation will not be able to perform <br />the tests to determine DMO status until the ore body is contacted (after the portal entry reaches the <br />1,380 foot length). All testing performed at this site thus far indicates that there is no water that will be <br />contacted. If the mine qualifies for DMO status, the waste pile material will rentain at the site for only <br />