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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1978-091 UG INSPECTION DATE 10/18/05 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO, HHP OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Hard Rock and Metals 110d permits. The operator was contacted about the inspection, but was not present during the inspection. The site was inactive at the time of the inspection. There were about seven sacks of ore stored in their usual location at Vickers Ranch; they were not tarped. The 3 Level dump areas were not inspected. The 6 Level appeared to have been actively operated just prior to this inspection, and that it was not secured for leaving it during the winter: a pile of uncrushed ore was located at the east end of the pad, very close to the drainageway of the gulch. The pile was not tarped, though the approved operating plan requires that all ore piles be tarped against the weather. During the inspection, it began to rain. Storing ore without a protective tarp allows precipitation to contact the ore, increasing the follow this requirement. See the last page of this report for the correction date. The operator is reminded to not allow ore or other mineralized material to slough into the drainageway. There were numerous vessels of hydrocarbons (diesel fuel, gasoline, hydraulic fluid, oil, etc.) stored at the site, without the required impermeable secondary containment. Most of the containers in question only held a few gallons, but they were numerous and scattered around the outside of the office and storage sheds. Some were open and/or exhibited spilled fluids. There were several of these inside the storage shed on a wood floor but out of the weather, and these too should be properly stored. There were over a dozen vessels, containing a combined total of 100 gallons or less of various fluids. Outside the office were two lead/acid batteries which had leaked onto the ground. Due to the lack of proper secondary containment and the evidence of spillage, this is noted as a problem under the topic of "acid or toxic materials." The correction to this problem reouires that the operator provide adequate secondary containment of all hvdrocarbons (and extra batteries) that are to be There were several pieces of mining and processing equipment onsite. The pad surface appeared to direct surface runoff toward the sump that is east of the portal. The portal door was locked against unauthorized entry. The borrow area at the west end of the pad still has anear-vertical cut wall. The northern (uphill) permit boundary was clearly marked by the onsite operator in 2004. The top of the cut wall is within a few feet of the northern boundary line, with nothing to suggest that sloughing of the loose material will not continue farther up the hill. If sloughing continues, and damage occurs to land outside the permit boundary, it may be a possible violation. The operator is encouraged to explore options to prevent such possible vilation from occurring: either commence backfilling to buttress and stabilize this cut wall, or amend the permit to add sufficient land as a buffer uphill from the present boundary, or other adequate alternative that the operator may propose. Due reasonable rememdv to this problem. See the last oage of this report for the correction date. This office is required to periodically recalculate the reclamation costs, based on the existing reclamation plan and the present condition of the site. The operator may influence the bond figures by performing the necessary ongoing site maintenance and/or limited amounts of reclamation to areas of the site that will not be additionally disturbed (such as clean-up of the 3 Level dump areas, or revegetation of the 6 Level dump outslope) and informing this office of completion of such work. No further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to the Division of Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Bob Oswald; phone no. 970-247-5193. Cont.