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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-1977-300 <br />INSPECTION DATE: December 6, 2001 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: AIW <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection conducted by Tony Waldron of DMG at the request of the operator. The mine is located approximately 7 <br />miles northwest of Golden, Colorado. The facilities are situated in a deeply dissected canyon/valley of Ralston Creek. The <br />primary ore-body is generally located due south of the facilities location and was accessed by a series of horizontal drifts that <br />lead to vertical shafts which decend down into the mine. This inspection was conducted to discuss and review the ongoing <br />reclamation of the ore sorting facility and office complex. <br />During the last inspection, which was conducted in August, 2001, the office was in the process of bein3 demolished and the <br />ore sorting facility had been removed down to the concrete foundation. That inspection was conducted to determine if some <br />of the ore sorting foundations could be left in place if properly covered. This included a vertical wall that could act as a <br />retaining wall if properly back-filled and covered with structural fill. The operator also wanted to backlill some inert materials <br />from the demolition of the office building instead of hauling them to an off-site landfill. These changes were approved via <br />technical revision # 6. During this inspection it is noted that the office complex has been completely removed and some <br />backfilling has occurred. The toe of the slope has also been defined for backfilling the area where the axe-sorter was located. <br />In addition, more work has been completed on the west dump including topsoiling, seeding and mulching the southeast end. <br />This inspection was conducted to discuss a couple of other changes that the operator wanted to review prior to submitting <br />another revision to the permit application. The first change involves the topsoiling and revegetation pl jn. The permit states <br />that the backfilled areas will be covered with 6-12 inches of topsoil and seeded with the approved seed mix. However, in the <br />course of reclaiming the site, the operator has uncovered a substantial amount of coarse rock ranging iii size from 6 inches up <br />to 23 feet in diameter. Some of this rock is being used to armor Ralston Creek for its 100-year storm event design. However, <br />there is additional material left over that the operator would like to use as surface cover throughout the site in lieu of <br />implementing the revegetation plan. Part of this area would be in conjunction with a proposed pond :end associated spillway. <br />Clearly, in [hose areas where armoring is required as part of water control structures, this material could be utilized. However, <br />the original reclamation plan should be implemented over the majority of the area that is being reclaimed. <br />With that said, there are some opportunities to incorporate some rock slide/slopes/piles into the plan. The surrounding <br />undisturbed terrain contains same steep areas that exhibit scree slopes as the primary surface cover. These areas contain very <br />little vegetation on the surface, however, they probably serve as good habitat for small rodents, birds, reptiles, etc. Therefore, <br />it would appear that the reclamation plan could be enhanced by the selective placement of some "rock slopes" interspersed <br />throughout the reclaimed area. The proposed location and general shape or design of these slopes should submitted as a <br />technical revision to the permit application if the operator decides to propose this change. <br />The second item that will be included in this revision is the proposed construction of a sediment basin or pond in the general <br />location of the former office parking lot. This pond would provide sediment control for run-off from those areas above the <br />main portal areas that will be reclaimed soon, including upper portals and the associated road that winds up slope from the <br />main portal level. There exists the possibility that these sediments could contain small amounts of uranium and this would <br />provide for capture and analysis of these sediments and if necessary, the ability to properly dispose of them. Once the <br />reclaimed areas became stable and/or the sediment is demonstrated to be inert, this pond could be removed and the normal <br />watershed (lows re-established. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME: Tom Buchholz <br />OPERATOR: Cotter Corporation <br />STREET: P.O. Box 1017 <br />CITY: Golden. CO 80402-1017 <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD (CH) <br />^ SE <br />^ WQCD (CH) <br />~, ~ ,.r, S}erg., - 0,,,,~ <br />