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September 20, 2010 C-1981-025/North Thompson Creek Mine JRS <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection N - Roads <br />R - Availability of Records R - Reclamation Success <br />N - Backfill & Grading N - Revegetation <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste N - Subsidence <br />N - Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Fish & Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site <br />R - Hydrologic Balance R - Signs and Markers <br />N - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />N - Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />N - Processing Waste N - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />This was a complete inspection of the North Thompson Creek Mine conducted on the afternoon of 20 September <br />2010 by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The mine has gone through a <br />Phase III Bond Release on all but 4.1 acres of disturbed lands and 411.10 acres of affected lands. The only <br />remaining surface disturbance is a developed water right used to passively treat portal discharge water. The <br />weather was warm and overcast and there was intermittent light rain during the inspection. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS - Rule 5.02.4(1): <br />- All of the necessary records were at the Garfield County Courthouse. Please see the "Availability of Records" <br />form at the end of this inspection report for more detailed information. <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, <br />4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water <br />Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage - Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; <br />Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />- The Long Pond was stable and in good condition at the time of the inspection. Both portals (#1 and #3) were <br />discharging into the pond). There is significant iron staining at and around the discharge points from the <br />precipitating iron, which is normal for this location. There is a large stand of cattails beginning approximately half <br />way down the long pond for the passive removal of the dissolved iron. <br />- The two treatment ponds (T1 and T2) were stable and in good condition at the time of the inspection. The water <br />from the Long Pond was flowing into T1, into T2 and ultimately discharging. The pond embankments of T1 and <br />T2 were well vegetated and no erosional problems were noted. <br />- The water from the treatment ponds was discharging and being routed to both the former sediment P-9 (which is <br />a permanent pond no longer within the disturbed area) and the former refuse pile sediment pond (also a permanent <br />pond no longer in the disturbed area). The discharge into these permanent ponds is allowed based on the <br />developed water right. The discharge into P-9 and the refuse pile sediment pond was clear and there was no iron <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Page 2 of 7