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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1986-076 INSPECTION DATE 8/24/04 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was pertormed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Hard Rock and Metals 110d permits. The operator was contacted about scheduling the inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the inspection. The site is identified by the required permit ID sign at the entrance to the site, and the boundary is marked by posted signs at the corners. It was noted that a few of the corner posts have fallen, and the operator should reinstall them before they cannot be relocated correctly. This is not a problem at this time. No activity or disturbance has occurred outside the permit boundary. The onsite roads have been improved: most surfaces are smoother, water bars exist in a few locations, drainage control appears improved, and thistle is now absent from the lowest road segment. Monitoring for drainage and weed problems will continue to be needed. It was noted that roadway maintenance, especially on the lower portions of the site where the soils are deeper, can produce a significant amount of soil material. This material should be added to the onsite topsoil stockpiles for reclamation, or spread onto shaped areas as they are prepared for reclamation. Mining has occurred according to the phased plan. The same mining area is still being worked as last year, with an expansion of the highwall cut into the slope. The mining area still contains a crusher and topsoil pile, and some broken highwall material (some of it possibly ore). Country rock and unmineralized dump material is to be placed, beginning at the bottom phases on the slope, in the contour depression area. To-date little volume of material has been mined and processed, and little has been placed in the contour depression. For future operations, the operator should review the plan and note where future placement will need to be made, to avoid problems from placement in non-approved areas. The mill building is in good condition, with no visible cracks or leaks. Maintaining it thus is a permit requirement since it acts as secondary containment to processing fluids. The diesel generator and fuel storage area were clean and dry, with no noticeable leaks. A check of the stored processing chemicals onsite revealed the following: sodium cyanide bricks, over 200#; acetone, 60-70 gallons, liquichlor 10%, 55 gallons; hydrogen peroxide 35%, 60-70 gallons; sodium hypochlorite, 10 gallons or less. No check of the assaying chemicals was made. The tailings sump at the east end of the mill did not contain any tailings, but it was holding precipitation runoff. Tailings are introduced to the sump as they are angered out of the mill in a neutralized form. No contaminants are to be in the sump, and none were observed there during the inspection. The storage shed east of the mill has been pulled back from the edge of the bench, but it should be moved further, since the bench may continue to erode slowly. No contaminants are stored in the shed. The southeast corner of the milibuilding is also at the edge of the bench, and slow deterioration of the slope is becoming apparent. This condition of slope erosion, caused or accelerated through road maintenance, may soon undermine the corner of the building. The operator was aware of the condition, and since road maintenance must still continue, it was agreed that slope stabilization will be the key to fixing the situation. The loose material presently comprising the slope will be plated with large, hand-stacked rock. These will be keyed into the earth below the base of the borrow ditch and extend up to the bottom of the building foundation. Rebar and grout maybe used. The slope gradient might be made less steep, if there is enough space to do so without widening the road surtace (which would cause more material to be cast over the edge of the road). This is not a problem at this time, since no instability has yet occurred, but a problem will be noted if a future inspection reveals mill building or road damage, or offsite erosion. There is still some debris and parts stored on the bench below the mill, west of the mining area. It is a small accumulation and is being kept orderly. Most all of the materials are still regarded as usable, but the operator stated that most all of it will be removed soon, since it will not be used onsite. The portal west of the tailings disposal area has been backfilled and roughly covered. Some slope sloughing has occurred above this feature, but that is apparently due to the pre-existing cut face above the old portal. Since additional backfilling and contouring of the portal slope is to occur as part of ongoing reclamation, it should be carried out sooner, perhaps, due to the sloughing now contributing to the unstable slope, that also affects the benches above and at portal level. There are no new tailings in the disposal area. It is being maintained to hold the designed amount