9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Future commitments

At December 31, 2015, our contractual obligations consisted of operating lease obligations of $114 associated with our Lakewood, Colorado corporate office as well as facilities in Sundance, Wyoming.

Potential environmental contingency

Our exploration and development activities are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations are continually changing and generally becoming more restrictive. The Company conducts its operations so as to protect public health and the environment and believes its operations are materially in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We have made, and expect to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. The ultimate amount of reclamation and other future site-restoration costs to be incurred for existing mining interests is uncertain.