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ORIGINAL -PUBLIC FILE (Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: ~~-I9Rn-yea INSPECTION DATE: 1111 I ins INSPECTOROS INITIALS: ~_ OBSERVATION The Division conducted a monitoring inspection of the site in response to a telephone call received from CCS.V regarding a Cyanide spill outside the containment area. CC&V reported on 1 1 /17/05 that due to a break in the weld of the solution processing pipe, approximately 100 gallons of solution was spilled outside of the containment area, and that due to the cold temperature, the solution froze up approximately 150 feet down gradient and was scooped up and place onto the pad. Even though this is not a reportable spill as approved under Amendment #8 by the MLRD BOARD ,which requires the operator to report spills in accordance within EPA guidelines, which for this operation is anything in excess of 101bs of Sodium cyanide, at the concentration in the pregnant solution, which is not in excess of 150ppm wad cyanide, the reportable spill has to exceed 1500 gallons. However, the Division had instructed CC&V to report all spills outside of the containment area and that the Division, will determine if a site inspection is warranted at that time. Arrived on site that afternoon and the area was receiving a considerable amount of snowfall at the time. Weni to the spill area of the Phase III leach pad and observed as reported that the operator hand indeed taken all the required corrective actions including the removal of all contaminated soil and frozen solution on to the pad and had already replaced the pipe and pad was operating as designed. The defective pipe was also looked at, as reported by CC&V the pipe appeared to have broken off where it was welded by the manufacturer. The cause of the failure appeared to be a defective weld because the pipe is deigned to handle pressure in excess of what was being utilized at the time of the failure and according to the HDPE material specifications, the welded area can handle more pressure than the area of the pipe that is not welded. Whatever the cause, it appeared to be a material defect rather than an operator error. Even though the fact that the spill occurred will be sited as problem, since the operator had already taken care of all the corrective actions, before, the Division even arrived on site, the compliance date will be the same as the date of inspection, which is 1 1 /17/OS.Since the problem appeared to be a defective weld by the manufacturer, if there are any pipes manufactured the same time and are being utilized to carry solutions, the Division recommends checkering these pipes on frequent basis specially during winter months when the daily temperature ranges are much wider than they would be during other seasons or consider replacing these pipes like the large header pipes that used to be HFPE, WITH STAINLESS STEEL PIPES. These are of course. Suggestions not recommendations, it is up to CC&V to make sure these things do not happen again, due to weld failure. I & E Contact Address NAME: MR TIM COMER CC: OPERATOR: CC&V STREET: P O RnX 191 CITY/STATE/ZIP: VIC'T(~R, C'nl nRAnn RORGn Harry Posey (e-mail)