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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1977-227 INSPECTION DATE 10/18/05 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed bythe Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112 permits, and in response to the operator's request for an inspection prior to commencing final reclamation. The operator was contacted about the inspection, and the operator's representatives named on page one were present during the inspection. Also present during the inspection were Bob Larson, geologic consultant for the operator, and Bob Fratti, reclamation contractor for the operator. The required permit ID sign was posted at the southern entrance gate. Several of the permit boundary markers and other locatable points along the boundary were indicated during the inspection. There is extensive pre-law disturbance around the permitted area, but all activity carried out under this permit appears to be contained within the permit boundary. (The file contains a very clear aerial photo of the site, dated 1978, which was used to determine the extent of permitted activity. A copy of the photo will be attached to this report and sent to all parties, for their information.) The several onsite structures have been removed down to their concrete floors and foundations. None of the floors indicate the former presence of generators or other attached heavy equipment, so the concrete is expected to be approximately 4 inches thick with medium reinforcing. A hydraulic hammer or large loader should easily break the slabs. There are also several concrete bin walls and retaining structures. These are thicker and possibly contain heavier reinforcement but, again, the operator's normal equipment should be sufficient to break it into the pieces. Disposal of the broken concrete may consist of burial in place or pushing it into the large pit several hundred feet away. There is a short overhead powerline spur leading into the site from the south. It ends at a tagged transformer, with no visible lines leading away. The powerline and poles were declared to belong to the local electric utility; the removal is not the operator's liability. There is minimal onsite debris, and no contaminants. A few stockpiles of crushed and sized cinders still exist on the central pad and at the bins described above. The central area, about 5 acres in size, is also covered with a generally thin layer of cinders. There are several pits at the site, some with fairly level floors, and some with durable basalt outcrops, but generally all with slopes that are steeper than the maximum approved in the reclamation plan. There are also a few shallow test pits that were dozed out near the excavated pits; these too will be backfilled or graded. Most of the pits are shallow and will be easily graded to final gradients. It was agreed that the basalt outcrops may remain, since they are stable and are not readily worked with earthmoving equipment. The large north pit is 40-50 feet deep, and by far is deeper than the other pits. It also contains basalt outcrops on portions of its steep walls. There are areas of steep slopes, and areas of vertical walls and benches. Reclamation of this pit could involve simple cut and fill grading of the walls to attain the approved maximum gradient, but thatwould be quite extensive and increase the footprint of the pit. Due to the variable nature of the slope material, it is possible that several methods of reclamation may be employed on different portions of the slopes. The NE wall contains several benches, somewhat discontinuous and random. The eastern wall contains a large visible outcrop that could be utilized as a stable portion if a new bench were constructed. The southern wall is comprised of loose material that may be easily dozed down. If any items (from demolition or other rubble) are to be buried onsite, this would be the area to place them to be backfilled. The existing reclamation plan does not include extensive use of steep walls and benches, though if the grading plans discussed onsite are to be implemented, they must be revised under a technical revision (TR). There are numerous areas along the west and NW margins containing overburden and topsoil piles. The approved reclamation plan requires that this material is to be used to cover the cinders and scoria wherever earthwork and grading has been performed. There are disturbed areas with exposed cinders on the surface, however, that are becoming naturally revegetated. It was agreed that the reclamation earthmoving should be carried out carefully, to avoid redisturbing certain overburden and cinder areas, so that they would not require reseeding. The species observed growing on the overburden and cinders mainly included rabbitbrush, saltbush, and broom snakeweed, with minor amounts of blue grama and winterfat. Blue grama was the dominant species growing on surrounding undisturbed land. The approved reclamation plan does not include some of these species that exhibit good success growing on these materials. Given that, plus the age of the existing seed mix plan, it is suggested that the local NRCS office be contacted to verify if the existing seed mix is still optimum for this site. If the operator wishes to change the seed mix, it may done through a technical revision (TR). It should be noted that samples of the surface material were taken by the operator to be analyzed for use as a "growth medium" The anavses should be forwarded to NRCS if a revised seed mix is to be developed. Near the concrete structures at the entrance two small, well-established patches of noxious weeds were observed: Canada