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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1978-311 <br />INSPECTION DATE 6/3/09 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Hard Rock and Metals 110(2) permits. The operator <br />was contacted about the inspection, and a time was arranged to meet. The operator's representative named on page one was <br />present during the inspection. Also present during the inspection were Dan Burns and Kyle Turley, both from US DOE (permit <br />area is located on US DOE lease tract CSR-13). <br />The site was not active during the inspection, and has not been active for several years. Most recent activity has been <br />earthwork performed for reclamation of the waste dump. The waste dump material was pulled away from the cliff and shaped <br />with a rough surface and adequate gradient. It was seeded several years ago, but vegetation is still sparse. The dump <br />material is in its final location, and should be monitored for revegetation success and erosional stability. <br />In the past, stormwater has been adequately conveyed and managed on the site, but the control structures are now in need of <br />repair. Upland drainage runs onto the permit, crosses the portal level bench and has deeply gullied the material along the <br />drainage path. The recent shaping of the waste dump material resulted in erodible surfaces that are not yet stabilized by <br />vegetation. This has caused accelerated erosion of the dump and upper road, and transported increased amounts of sediment <br />to the sediment pond. The sediment pond capacity and lower berms have not been maintained however, and runoff now <br />either avoids the pond or flows from the pond. It appears that most sediment remains onsite but runoff water is not adequately <br />controlled. This is noted as a problem in this report. The corrective action is that the operator must rebuild the necessary <br />stormwater runoff control structures including riprap berms and the sediment pond (probably detailed in his SWMP plan) and <br />provide evidence to this office of such timely action. See the last page for the correction date. (The operator is reminded that <br />regular monitoring and maintenance of these structures is necessary.) <br />The lower portions of the site (below the waste dump, ramp road, and ore bin) especially in and near the sediment pond, exhibit <br />an infestation of Russian knapweed and tamarisk. These are State-listed noxious weeds and are required to be controlled. <br />The patches are fairly small (total area about 1000 sf) and must be treated this season and regularly until they are eliminated. <br />The operator was aware of the weeds, partly due to having a recently updated weed map from US DOE, and from the weed <br />control requirement under the US DOE lease agreement. He stated that he has a weed control plan and that weed treatment <br />was scheduled to be performed this season. The DRMS permit file does not contain a copy of the weed control plan, though <br />one should be made part of this permit. The presence of these noxious weeds, and the lack of a written weed control plan in <br />the permit, are noted as a problem in this report. The corrective action is that the operator must treat the weeds in a timelv <br />manner this season and provide evidence of the treatment and to revise the DRMS permit to include the weed control plan <br />See the last page for the correction date. (There is no fee for the technical revision for the weed control plan. The weed <br />control plan should include input from the US DOE and/or the San Miguel County weed control office.) <br />The operator stated that this site will not be actively mined, but the portal will be needed as a secondary escapeway for the <br />nearby Ellison Mine (permit M-1978-342, also permitted to this operator), therefore this DRMS permit must continue to remain <br />active. Presently there is a welded steel bat grate anchored to the opening, which will eventually be modified to allow egress. <br />Outstanding reclamation tasks and ongoing maintenance tasks include maintaining a safeguarded portal and stable access to <br />the portal, monitoring and maintaining stormwater drainage controls, revegetation and weed control. This office will verify the <br />amount of bond posted to the US DOE and to DRMS, to ensure that sufficient bond exisits for this permit. <br />No further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to this inspector <br />at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 691 County Road 233, Suite A-2, Durango, Colorado 81301. (Please note: <br />As of 7/1/08 the Durango Field Office moved to the new address, shown above. Please revise your records as <br />necessary.) <br />Cont.