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February 29, 2012 C-1981-008/New Horizon Mine MLT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 <br />Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures <br />4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; <br />Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments <br />4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br /> <br />The ground surface throughout the permit area appears to have been damp, and scattered <br />puddles of water are visible. There may have been a precipitation event not too far precedent <br />to the inspection. <br /> <br />Ponds 007 (Photo 3) and 008 (Photo 4) continue to impound water, although the level in each <br />appears to be below the elevation at which discharge will occur. Pond 011 (Photos 7 and 8) <br />holds a shallow puddle of water at its western end. <br /> <br />Pond 013 (not shown) was full enough to be discharging. <br /> <br />Now that the pit is divided into northern and southern segments, it can be seen that water <br />collects only the southern pit. This water is pumped overland to the elevated water tank; <br />overflow from this tank is piped to Pond 013. <br /> <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLANCE: <br /> <br />Using Permit Map 2.05.4-1-2 (Western Mining Area Post-Mining Topography & Mining <br />Sequence) as a reference, it appears that the active pits are presently centered at Cuts 97 <br />(WFC) and 97B (Morgan). <br /> <br />At the north end of the WFC pit (Photo 8), the drill pattern for final blasting of Cut 97 <br />appears to be completed. On the Morgan property, removal of Bench 1 material has <br />commenced at the southern end of Cut 98B (Photo 7). <br /> <br />REVEGETATION Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> <br />The Irrigated Pasture (IP) reference area lies adjacent to the southeastern edge of the permit <br />boundary, as shown in Photo 1. Use of a reference area, in lieu of a technical standard for IP <br />postmining land use, was approved under TR-58 in May, 2009. No livestock are seen <br />grazing within the reference area. <br /> <br />Photos 1 thru 4 show the reclaimed areas in the eastern half of the permit area. Postmining <br />land use for the majority of these properties is IP. Smaller sections of Dryland Pasture (DP) <br />are also identified. <br /> <br />Cattle can be seen grazing on the Staats (formerly Benson-South) IP field in Photos 1 and 2, <br />The livestock will need to be moved <br />and on the Burbridge / Western Fuels fields in Photo 4. <br />soon, prior to germination of new growth in the pastures. <br /> <br /> <br />SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF MINING Rules 4.22 through 4.27: <br />Prime Farmlands - Rule 4.25 <br /> <br />Sampling of the various soil stockpiles on the Morgan property was accomplished in <br />December 2011. The stockpiles are identified A thru E in Photo 5. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 8 <br />313 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 Page of <br /> <br /> <br />