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Introduction <br />Report <br />Geotechnical Reconnaissance <br />Idaho Mine Access Road <br />Durango, Colorado <br />Prepared by R Squared, Inc. <br />John Erich Rauber - Colorado P.E. #26647 <br />May 29, 2010 <br />This report presents the results of a geotechnical reconnaissance performed at the May Day and <br />Idaho Mines (the mines) near Durango. On May 22, 2010, R Inc. performed a reconnaissance <br />to evaluate the stability of an approximate 500 foot long section of the access road constructed <br />on a steep hillside adjacent to a river ( "the road "). We understand the purpose of the road is to <br />provide temporary private access to the mine. Vehicular traffic on the road will be infrequent, <br />and, other than an occasional concrete truck or the like, be limited to passenger cars and pickup <br />trucks. A plan view of the road alignment is shown in Figure 1. The reconnaissance was <br />performed with the aid of a backhoe operated by Mr. Tom Mossa. <br />Background <br />Mr. Mossa indicated that he had participated in the original construction of the road. According <br />to Mr. Mossa, the road was constructed 2 years ago to provide access to the mines State and <br />County regulators are concerned about the stability of the road. During a May 20 telephone <br />conversation, Mr. Allen Sorenson of Colorado Department of Reclamation Mining and Safety <br />(CDRMS) indicated his primary concerns include (1) the quality, thickness, and degree of <br />compaction of the road fill material, and (2) the stability of the existing timber retaining wall on <br />the outboard side of a portion of the road. Mr. Paul Martin (Colorado P.E.), during a brief <br />telephone conversation on May 21 indicated the road was never completed; as -built drawings <br />prepared by Sakura Engineering, dated October 20, 2009 (the as -built drawings), show existing <br />conditions as of October 9 only. Mr. Martin further indicated that he was performing sand cone <br />density tests along the road, and collecting samples on which compaction tests and fill <br />classification tests will be performed. The results of these efforts will be provided to R along <br />with his conclusions regarding the stability of the road. I received a copy of a copy of Mr. <br />Martin's report, dated May 26, 2010 (the May 26 report). <br />May 30, 2010 <br />