2011-05-23_INSPECTION - C1981008 (2)

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May 11, 2011 C- 1981- 008/New Horizon Mine MLT However, in spite of the immediate response by the DRMS on May 11, 2011, Ten -Day Notice Number X -11- 140 - 532- OO1TV2 was issued by OSM on May 12, 2011 and received by the DRMS on May 16, 2011. INSPECTION I departed Durango at 10:00 a.m. and arrived at the mine site at 1:00 p.m. Skies were heavily overcast, winds were light to gusty out of the northwest, and there were occasional light rain sprinkles. Ground conditions were wet, and puddles had formed in areas which lack positive drainage. Surface conditions appeared to be more the result of a steady or intermittent accumulation of moisture than what would typically result from a sudden downburst event (no evidence was seen of sediment erosion, transport, and deposition having occurred in either the surrounding area or within the permit). Upon arrival in the Nucla area, I proceeded directly to a vantage point on the southern permit boundary - on BB27 Road, northwest of the Frank Morgan home. Looking northward into the permit area, I observed that the mine shovel was parked on Morgan property, perhaps 50 yards from the fence (Photo 1). The drill rig was visible in the distance, stationed on "Bench 2" overburden on the WFC parcel. The only visible equipment activity was a bulldozer working on one of the ramps leading into the pit. The remainder of pit operations appeared to be shut down due to wet conditions. I reported to the New Horizon Mine office at approximately 1:30 p.m. Lance Wade (Mine Manager) and Ross Gubka (Chief Engineer) were present. Mine personnel were questioned regarding recent soil management activities. Mr. Wade said that no topsoil had been hauled that day and that it was raining hard in the morning. He also said a bulldozer had worked on cleaning up the base of Lift B [top surface of in situ Bench 11 on Morgan property. With respect to scraping topsoil from the truck beds, Mr. Wade explained that this is a routine task, performed one to two times per shift, and is made necessary by the natural moisture contents of the Lift A, Lift B, and Bench 1 materials. Mr. Gubka accompanied me on the remainder of the inspection SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF MINING — Rules 4.22 through 4.27: Rule 4.25 — Prime Farmland The area of recent soil salvage on prime farmland (Morgan property) was examined in detail, and observations were made regarding equipment tracks and current locations of equipment, in -situ soil conditions, and soil pile locations and conditions. Detailed observations are as follows. On the Morgan property, a low berm of "Lift A" topsoil was built up along the western edge of the disturbed area, the typical configuration approved in the permit. All Lift A topsoil appeared to have been salvaged from east of the berm, with the exception of a small mound piled at the southernmost end, and another pile near the north end of Morgan property. A berm of "Lift B" subsoil was constructed approximately 15 feet east of, and parallel to, the Lift A berm (Photo 1). The Lift B material in the berm appeared to have a higher percentage of rocks than what has typically been observed (Photo 2). • The surface of the `Bench I" overburden, which underlies Lift B subsoil, is noticeably closer Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 8 Number of Comylete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 Page 3 of 14