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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: nt-Gaon-nay INSPECTION DATE: IIZ/mm4 LNSPECTOR=S INITIALS: ~BS-- OBSERVATIONS 1. INTRO: A site inspection of the Bates-Hunter Mine and Golden Gilpin Mill was conducted on June 28, 2004 and July 7, 2004 as part of the Division's 4-year inspection program. Present during the inspection were George Often and Jim Bateman. The Hates-Hunter Mine is located between the towns of Central City and Black Hawk at an elevation of 8,300 feet. The Golden Gilpin Mill is located approximately 0.8 miles north of the Bates-Hunter Mine along Colorado Highway 119 and on the south side of North Clear Creek. Mr. Often was very cooperative and helpful during the inspection. 2. Permit Specifications: The Bates-Hunter Mine and Golden Gilpin Mill is permitted for a total surface disturbance of 3.5 acres. The Bates-Hunter Mine is an underground hard rock vein mine. Very little, if any, overburden waste rock is anticipated. Any overburden waste rock generated during mining or development will be backfilled within the underground workings. Mine water from de-watering operations will be treated at the water treatment plant prior to offsite discharge. The operator has an approved NPDES Water Discharge Permit via the Colorado Department of Health. The reclamation plan specifies the site(s) will be reclaimed to Industrial/Commercial use as had existed prior to issuance of Permit M-1990-041. All structures and buildings will remain during final reclamation. At the Golden Gilpin Mill, the operator will a) mill ore from the Bates-Hunter mine and possibly other mines on a custom basis, using floatation methods, b) not use any cyanide during milling, c) install a final flotation cleanup circuit to recover pyrite, d) establish a. peat filter to treat tailings effluent prior to discharge into North Clear Creek, e) backfill & grade tailings ponds so as to minimize any water detention, f) re-vegetate the south bank of North Clear Creek, and g) remove much of the old equipment not essential far future milling operations. The operator has posted a financial warranty of $5,000. (This inspector notes that the operator had committed to and had posted the maximum allowable financial warranty amount for a Limited Impact 110(2) permit at the time of posting). 3. Status: According to Annual Reports filed by the operator and Mr. Often, minimal disturbance occurred at the mitre and mill facilities in 1990-1991 when surface facilities were being established, and again in 2000 when the "water treatment plant" was constructed. Aaording to Mr. Often, there has never been any development or extraction of o[e or waste rock at the mine, processing of mine water at the water treatment plant and offsite discharge, or milling of oteat the mill facility. However, it is the Division's position that the development of processing facilities for future mineraF extraction or ore processing activities does indicate that the °mining operation" has commenced. Based on these findings, the Division requests that the operator either a) begin sustained mining and/or milling activity for ()&a(st)180 days per ; year within the next 60 days, or b) file a Notice of Temporary Cessation in writing per Rules 1.13.5 1 2 within the next. 60 days. The Division considers the status of the operation to be problem that will require corrective actions. Please see. Page 4 for corrective actions. !. ~; 4. Disturbances Noted: There has been no significant change in the condition of the mine, water treatment pfarrt;,anQ mill facilities since the last inspection by the Division on July 24, 2000. The mine, water treatmerrYplarit, andtmi~:were not operating at the time of inspection. Digital photographs were taken and are attached to this:reporti Thisinspe~ctar notes the following observations: A) Bates-Hunter Mine The mine is in operable condition but has water in the shaft. - The dimensions of the shaft are 8' x 12'; steel collar w/ an 8" I-Beam. The shaft is safeguarded with a steel lid and lack. The water treatment plant is in operable wndition but is not currently operating. There was an estimated 10 flatbed trailer loads of non-roadable mining equipment on site. An accurate acrnunting of the type, quantity, volume, and chemical wmposition of each water treatment reagent on site was unknown at the time of inspection. B) Golden Gilpin Mill A concrete block retaining wall has been established to isolate existing tailings from North Clear Creek. The operator has established a 2' high berm along the south bank of North Clear Creek. The operator has stabilized the south Bank of North Clear Creek via numerous evergreen tree plantings. : It is unknown whether the final Flotation cleanup circuit to recover pyrite has been installed. The peat filter for treatment of tailings effluent has not yet been installed.