_INSPECTION - C1981016 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

October 24,2013 C-1981-016/Hawk Nest E&W JRS noted in any of the regraded slopes at the West Mine. -The Guest House area is an old house/office building that is currently being used as a residence/summer home. The area was not reclaimed and remains basically as it was when mining ceased and reclamation commenced. The Guest House area remains stable,with no problems noted at the site. HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1,4.05.2,4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7,4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage —Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6,4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: -There is a large drainage ditch cutting through the western third(approximately)of the lower facilities area of the East Mine. This ditch carries water from the reclaimed slopes as well as water from the roadside ditch above the ditch. There is a culvert that is installed under old Highway 133 that flows into the ditch. The outlet of the culvert was damaged but the culvert was clean and appeared to remain functional. The ditch is both riprapped and vegetation lined. The ditch is clean and stable and no erosional problems were noted in the ditch. This ditch will remain following termination of jurisdiction. -There is a large drainage ditch that cuts through the eastern third(approximately)of both the upper portal and lower facilities areas of the West Mine. The upper and lower portions are connected by a culvert. The ditch is both riprapped and vegetation lined. The ditch is clean and stable and no erosional problems were noted in the ditch. This ditch will remain following termination of jurisdiction. -There are two upland diversion ditches above the West Mine portal area. These upland diversion ditches convey water from above the reclamation to the west and into a native drainage. These ditches are both grass-lined ditches. Both ditches were clean and stable at the time of the inspection and no erosional problems were noted in either ditch at the time of the inspection. -There is a berm approximately one foot high at the bottom(Gunnison River)part of both the East and West Mines. These berms were constructed with the original reclamation to help keep sediment from entering the river. The berms are both stable and well vegetated. There is no evidence of any sediment being retained behind the berms at this time (because there is little to no erosion coming from the site). These berms will be retained for sediment control following the Division's termination of jurisdiction. OTHER(LANDOWNER CONCERNS): -There was a landowner,Jason Timbreza,present on the inspection. He is the owner of the Guest House area. He provided a comment letter and had two issues regarding the reclamation and proposed termination of jurisdiction at the Hawk's Nest Mine. A copy of his letter has been scanned and is included in the SL-0I file. Below are the issues Mr. Timbreza raised and the Division's response to these issues. -The first issue is the lack of topsoil at the site and,because of this,the lack of vegetation on the reclaimed site, especially the lack of native vegetation. Additionally,the lack of native vegetation has lead to a decrease in/lack of wildlife on the reclamation. The reason there is no topsoil on the reclaimed areas is because there was no topsoil available for salvage when the original Hawk's Nest Mine disturbance was created. All of the newly disturbed areas were previously disturbed by historic mining. The only available topsoil was a small stockpile of approximately 50 cubic yards salvaged at the loadout. This lack of topsoil is documented in the original Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for the Hawk's Nest Mine in Section XI -Topsoil(on page 47). Given the lack of topsoil on site,the reclamation and seeding was completed to stabilize the site and to control erosion from Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 Page 3 of 18