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November 2, 20 10 C-1981-025/North Thompson Creek Mine JRS z ,J <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 N - 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 by Jim Stark of the Colorado <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Stephanie Reigh of the Division accompanied me on the inspection. <br />There were no representatives from Minrec present on the inspection. The North Thompson Creek Mine has <br />undergone a Phase III Bond Release on all but 4.1 disturbed and 411.1 affected acres. The disturbance is basically <br />limited to a series of treatment ponds that have become a developed water resource. The weather was cool and <br />sunny and the ground was muddy from the recent snows. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS - Rule 5.02.4(1): <br />- The records were checked on the afternoon of 2 November 2010, following the inspection. All of the necessary <br />records were available at the Garfield County Courthouse in Glenwood Springs. Please see the records checklist <br />at the end of this inspection 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 />- Both the No. 1 and No. 3 portals were discharging at the time of the inspection. The discharge was going into <br />the Long Pond for treatment. <br />- The long Pond was stable at the time of the inspection. There was iron staining on the rocks, soil and vegetation <br />at the inlet area of the pond. This staining became less prominent father down the pond. There was no iron <br />staining at the end of the pond, where it flows in a culvert into the treatment ponds. <br />- Treatment Ponds T-1 and T-2 were both stable at the time of the inspection. Waster was discharging from T-1 <br />into T-2 and from T-2 into former sediment ponds P9 and the Refuse Pile Pond. The discharge of water from T-2 <br />into these ponds is approved as part of the developed water resource post-mining land-use. There was no water <br />discharging into the North Thompson Creek at the time of the inspection (the discharge pipe to the creek has been <br />blocked). There was no iron staining in either of the treatment ponds or at the discharge location. The former <br />sediment P9 and the Refuse Pile Pond are no longer a part of the North Thompson Creek Mine's permit area. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Page 2 of 8