2014-01-21_INSPECTION - C1981012 (2)

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January 8, 2014 C- 1981- 012/New Elk Mine LDS the inventory of chemicals stored at this location as soon as possible North of the highway • Culvert C41 had been restored. Some of the related projects were yet to be completed and will need improved weather before they can be tackled (scooping up refuse, moving soil, re- grading road, cut small road ditch, build water bar, fill gullies above pond 8 and re -seed repairs) • Containment 5 and pond 8 were both holding water — the sediment levels of each will need to be assessed when the water level drops • A small sediment trap above containment 5 was in good shape • The RDA access road and all the culverts underneath it were in good shape Between the highway and the river: • Culvert C14 and the ditch below it were clear • The silt fence at the western end of the SAE had been reinforced with extra wooden stakes and was functional. South of the river Ponds 1, 6 and 7 were inspected. All ponds were holding frozen water and no problems were observed with the pond structures. Pond 6 had not yet been lined, but plumbing to the thickener tank had been completed. Pond 7 had a high water level and the gate valve on the primary spillway outlet was closed. The following text is taken from page 2.05 -10a of the permit: A staff gage will be installed on or adjacent to the riser pipe of Pond 007 identifying the water level (7337.3 ft) adequate to retain a 10 year 24 hour storm without discharging over the emergency spillway. It is important that NECC maintain the designed capacity in pond 7 in order to deal with the runoff from future storms. As shown in photo 28, the level of water in the pond is almost to the top of the primary spillway riser, and no staff gauge is visible. Water should be discharged from the pond, following treatment with a flocculant if necessary, as soon as possible until the required capacity is restored. If not already present, the staff gauge should be constructed so that the pond level may be easily monitored. Mr Thompson explained that NECC had not yet received approval from CDPHE to use the flocculant, which certainly complicates the matter • Vegetation had been cleared from culverts C86 and C87 • Culvert C22 was clear • Sediment had continued to accumulate in the very long culvert, C17. Culvert C17 should be flushed as soon as it is practical to do so. (It appears as though C17 and C19 are a single culvert). • Most of the PVC pipes in D32b had been removed and the ditch had been deepened. • The plan for the "C16 system" of culverts is to install a new culvert from the outlet of C9, diagonally across the road to below the outlet of C8. It will be necessary to evaluate the capacity of ditch D 15 and all Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 Page 5 of 16