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<br />(Page 2) <br /> <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-77-215 <br />INSPECTION DATE 9-6-96 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a routine partial inspection of the Bulldog mine Located above Creede Colorado in Mineral County. <br />Canada thistle is becoming a significant problem across the mine area. All areas of the site that were visited during this inspection, <br />with the exception of the 9700 level, had established patches of Canada thistle. The operator must continue to perform weed <br />control measures for this and any other species of noxious weeds on site. <br />97001evel -Shrubs and trees in the waste rock dump are showing tremendous new growth, probably due to the wet spring and <br />recent stretch of rainy weather. Grass that was seeded over the waste rock is almost a total failure, showing establishment almost <br />exclusively in the small areas of soil where the trees and shrubs were planted, and where loader buckets of dirt were dumped. <br />The small cave in behind the backfilled 9700 level portal, which was backfilled last year with native rock still appears stable and <br />natural looking, but should be watched far signs of additional instability. <br />9360 level -Homestake has re-opened the 9360 portal to access the adit seal for evaluation of its effectivness as a hydraulic seal. <br />The backfilled portal has been seeping during the spring runoff season of the last few years. Drainage from the re-opened portal <br />was reported to be approximately 60 gpm this spring, and is currently running approximately 30 gpm. The flow progresses from <br />the portal to a catch basin where it is pumped to a series of sprinkler heads on the waste dump for infiltration, evaporation and use <br />by the revegetated stand. No discharge was observwd running off of the site. Homestake is cautioned to watch this system closely <br />given the saturated conditions of the ground. Heavy rains could cause a discharge of the drainage to Windy Gulch. The project <br />is on hold waiting for flows to diminish to a volume that allows the adit seal reconstruction to occur. <br />The Windy Gulch culvert and riprap channel were clear of debris and appeared to be stable. <br />The hill slope behind the office has been revegetated and reclamation is successful. The operator is building an enclosure around <br />the large aspen tree behind the office to prevent elk and deer from feeding on it and the saplings shooting up from the roots of that <br />tree. <br />Upper tailings pond -The excess material comprising the upper tailings dam, above the tailings level, was regraded out onto the <br />tailings and re-seeded. The material has proven to be more successful in supporting vegetative cover on the tailings. The area is <br />currently primarily covered with clover and several emerging species of grasses. <br />Lower tailings pond -The slopes around the tailings pond, that were stripped of vegetation and topsoil are not showing signs of <br />successful revegetation. The operator may wish to reseed this area, possibly amending the soil to promote successful revegetation. <br />Vegetation is becoming established on the lower tailings pond surface, but the vegetation is patchy with many bare spots. <br />Homestake is encouraged to perform additional reclamation measures on this surface to show due diligence in attempting to <br />expedite reclamation success on these tails. <br />The reconstructed west side of the stormwater diversion ditch around the lower tailings pond appears to have handled a large storm <br />event with no signs of erosion or instability. <br />I & E Contact Address cc: Tom Gillis, DMG <br /> ^ CE <br />NAME Alan Cox ^ BL <br />OPERATOR Homestake Mining Company ^ FS <br />STREET 650 California Street ^ HW <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP San Francisco. California 94108 ^ HMWMD (CH) <br /> ^ SE <br /> ^ WOCD ICH) <br /> ^ OTHER <br />