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• (Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-81-165 INSPECTION DATE 6-29-98 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS This was a partial inspection of the Neglected Mine, conducted to observe installation of the tailings pond liner, check the temporary storage of the detoxified heap leach pad material, and to conduct a general monitoring inspection. Upon arrival to the site, it was noted that the revegetation effort on areas seeded as part of the 1994 reclamation effort was very successful. vegetative growth appeared to be vigorous, given the rocky conditions, and adequate to stabilize the soils. A crew from Environmental Liners, Inc. out of Cortez, Colorado were in the process of preparing a layer of 8 oz. geocomposite underlines, to be covered with the 36 mil polypropylethylene liner in the mill tailings pond. Strips of the underlines were laid down in a north to south orientation. Each seam was overlapped ant heat tacked to keep the material in place while the liner was being placed. According to the operator representative, in preparation for the underlines, the pond interior was rock picked and then hand raked three times. The pre-liner surface appeared to be covered with a layer of dirt with little rock component. The operator indicated that, though the surface looked smooth, any small disturbance such as walking up the pond embankment, would turn up sharp rocks. That ie why the decision was msde to tadce the advise of the liner company representative and install the underlines. The liner was installed in three pieces. One full length piece laid from east to west on the south half of the pond, and two pieces to make up the north half liner. The north half liner was originally one piece, but difficulty placing the liner on the steeper north slope resulted in the crew splitting that piece of liner into two halves width-wise. The original two piece liner was actually several pieces that the liner co. representative, Ray Fox, indicated were factory seamed and with quality assurance checks performed. Field seams included one full length seam Sown the center of the pond, west to east. One seam down the center of the north half lin~ar, from the top of the north side to the bottom at the pond center. Three other field seams were created when folds of excess material in the northeast, southeast and northwest corners were cut out of the liner. All seams, both field and factory, were two inch wide heat bonded seams. The field seams were completed using a self-propelled unit called a miniwedge. The unit was set for 170 degrees Fahrenheit and travel~zd along at 70 percent of the motor speed. Mr. Fox indicated that the speed was equivalent to approximately 9-10 feet per minute. Site conditions during installation were hot and dry. Though the top of the liner was a light tan color, the liner was almost too hot to touch due to absorption of solar radiation. Humidity was in the 'teens. The liner material was clean and did not require cleaning prior to seaming. Several factory patches were noted o~i the liner and several field patches were required at joint intersections and locations where the material would bind up in the miniwedge, causing a wrinkle that usually left a hole. Several seams were tested by pulling on the two pieces of liner material. The seams were very strong. The finished pond was estimated at 200 feet long by 60 feet wide. The mill building is up, but not all of the mill circuit machinery is installed yet. The dual pipeline from the mill to the tailings pond have been installed. Detoxified material salvaged from the old cyanide heap leach has been stored in a temporary lined structure. The operator was instructed to cover this stockpile to prevent possible discharge of contaminated water from weathering of this material. This cover is required if