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OBSERVATIONS <br />PERMIT #: M -1977 -300 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: TAK <br />INSPECTION DATE: November 17, 2011 <br />This inspection was conducted by Tom Kaldenbach and Tony Waldron of DRMS. Consultants to DRMS, Mark <br />Gray of Shannon and Wilson and Bruce Nelson of Environmental Design Engineering, went along on the <br />inspection. John Hamrick of Cotter Corporation respresented the operator. The ground on the site was dry, <br />with a few patches of snow. The weather was cold and clear. <br />The Schwarzwalder Mine is undergoing reclamation. <br />Acid And Toxic Materials: <br />There are three sources of radioactive materials on the Schwartzwalder site: the mine pool, waste rock piles, <br />and alluvial fill. With the exception of the recently constructed Sump 10, no new disturbance was evident in <br />any of the areas of source materials. Portals into the mine workings (Steve, Pierce, and Sunshine adits) remain <br />closed. The mine waste piles are vegetated. Alluvial fill remains buried. <br />Backfilling and Grading: <br />The slopes of the two waste rock piles appeared stable with no bulges in the lower parts of the piles. <br />Financial Warranty: <br />The adequacy of the mine's financial warranty is being addressed through the reviews of TR -18 (in review) and <br />AM -02 (review suspended). <br />Hydrologic Balance: <br />Ralston Creek at a location immediately upstream from the mine's treatment water inflow was flowing clear <br />water at a rate estimated to be less than 100 cfs. The mine treatment system was discharging clear water <br />from the pipe near Sump 1 into Ralston Creek at a rate estimated to be less than 1 cfs. <br />The following alluvial monitoring wells were seen during the inspection: MW1, MW2, MW3A, MW6, MW7, <br />MW8, MW9, and MW12. Their standpipes appeared in good repair with caps in place. <br />The standpipes of the two bedrock monitoring wells, MW10 and MW11, located on top of the hill above the <br />portals were also in good shape. <br />The concrete -lined retention ponds located next to the treatment plant building appeared in good condition <br />and contained pools of water. <br />Revegetation: <br />Grass cover is well - developed on top of the two waste rock piles. <br />Sediment Control: <br />There were no indications of excessive erosion on the site. The grass- covered waste rock piles showed no <br />signs of gullying. <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />