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Interoffice MEMORANDUM to: Byron Walker , from: Kent Gorham subj: Collum Baseline Field Notes, Colowyo, C-80-006 date: September 30, 2004 These are my field notes and thoughts concerning the DMG/Colowyo baseline field inspection of the proposed Collum expansion area at the Colowyo Mine. The digital photographs I took during the inspection can be found, named as referenced in the text of this document, in m/coal/kag/ground insp photos/2004 Colowyo baseline. The inspection began after meeting Colowyo representatives at the main gate of the existing operation. In attendance were Tae, Brant, Crellin Scott, and Jerry Rowe. Representing the Division during the inspection were Byron Walker, Dan Hernandez, Janet Binns, and me. We proceeded to the Gossard house where we briefly reviewed large oblique aerial photographs. We then proceeded to the northeast corner of the permit area along Jubb Creek (pic Jubb), where we inspected the stream channel. We proceeded south, entering the pit area along exploration roads. We stopped about'/z mile north of the pit area at a high spot (pic pit area). Six drill rigs were on site at various locations. Exploration pads consisted of windrowed topsoil and mild leveling off the pad. Sediment control and topsoil markers, if required, were not observed. We stopped at hole 19, which is the approximate northern mining limit of Phase I/II. We dropped into Little Collum Gulch where a well was located. This well pumps water up to steel tanks both east and west of the Gulch. Water is then directed to livestock tanks (large tires and dug ponds) through a series of valves and pipelines. This well was approximately 130 feet deep according to Brant. The electrical conductivity (EC), as measured by the DMG was 1000 umhos/cm. Production exceeds 45 gallons per minute. It is not known whether this is a permitted well. Little Collum Gulch at this location is steep-sided and straight. We then proceeded to the southern limit of mining along Little Collum (pic south limit). Elk were bugling about'/< mile to the south in the aspen forest. Stock ponds constructed in the upper reaches of Little Collum were dry. We then drove down the slope through the proposed pit area and had lunch in Collum Gulch in SE 1/4 of section 23, T4N, R94W. Willow grows next to the stream channel in this location. Upstream of where the road crosses the stream, the valley bottom is narrow and any farmable area is negligible (pic above Collum AVF). After lunch, we proceeded a short distance down Collum Gulch, in the area that had been previously identified by the OSM as potentially irrigable based on water availability sufficient for irrigation development consistent with regional agricultural practices. This area is much wider than many of the other canyon floors we visited up to that time. Water was flowing in the stream at 10-20 gallons per minute, maybe up to 30 gpm. The EC of the water measured 1000 umhos/cm. Remnants of Crested wheatgrass plants were observed growing in the pasture at this location. This species is introduced and may indicate a previous attempt to irrigate and/or improve the vegetation along the valley floor. Byron noted the presence of a shallow, linear feature running approximately along contour that could be an abandoned irrigation ditch. It could also be an old roadbed. It is my opinion that this is an area that definitely requires more study to determine if it is indeed an AVF. I verbally conveyed this thought to Jerry and Crellin. It is likely that this area