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PERMIT#: M-1985-029 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br /> INSPECTION DATE: October 3,2014 <br /> protect areas outside of the affected land from damage occurring during the mining operation. <br /> CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:This possible violation will require a hearing before the Mined Land Reclamation Board. <br /> The schedule and other details for the MLRB hearing will be provided under a separate document to be sent via <br /> certified mail to the Operator. <br /> CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE: 11/19/14 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> The inspection was conducted by Michael Cunningham of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br /> (Division). Jim Murray, Tom Gibson and Arnis Townsend were present on behalf of the High Mountain Mining <br /> Company. The Alma Placer Mine is located on the east end of the Town of Alma in Park County, Colorado. The <br /> site is permitted for 216.10 acres, with a maximum allowed disturbance of 136.80 acres. The primary <br /> commodities mined are gold and aggregate. <br /> On October 3, 2014, the Division received an email from Mr. Tom Eisenman, the Park County Administrator. <br /> The email stated the Middle Fork of the South Platte River was full of sediment and the source of the sediment <br /> was identified as the Gloria Z Mine (M-1984-094). Following the receipt of the email from Mr. Eisenman, the <br /> Division received a call from Mr. Greg Lewicki, the environmental consultant for High Mountain Mining <br /> Company. Mr. Lewicki informed the Division that the Alma Placer Mine was believed to be the source of the <br /> sediment in the river. According to Mr. Lewicki, mine personnel noticed a substantial amount of sediment in <br /> the river on the morning of the October 3, 2014. The specific source of the sediment had not been identified, <br /> but the occurrence of sediment in the river coincided with the placement of a trommel on the east side of the <br /> active mining area. Wash water from the trommel was being discharged into an existing sediment pond, <br /> labeled as 'Existing Settling Pond F' on Exhibit C-4: Hydrology Map. The Operator started running the trommel <br /> in the new location and discharging water to Settling Pond F on October 2, 2014. Mr. Lewicki also informed <br /> the Division the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment had been notified of the incident. <br /> The purpose of the inspection was to determine if the source of the sediment in the Middle Fork of the South <br /> Platte River was related to mining activity at the Alma Placer Mine. The Division conducted an inspection of <br /> the mine site and inspected the Middle Fork of the South Platte River. The river was inspected for a distance of <br /> approximately 0.6 miles beginning at the mine site and then proceeding downstream. <br /> Hydrologic Balance: <br /> The Division traversed the mine site, beginning near the active mining area where the trommel was located. <br /> The Operator ceased operating the trommel on the morning of October 3, 2014 and wash water was no longer <br /> being discharged into Settling Pond F. At the time of the inspection, Settling Pond F still contained wash water. <br /> According to the Operator, the water level had not decreased in the past 24 hour period. The Division walked <br /> the perimeter of Settling Pond F and did not observe any surface breaches which would have allowed the <br /> wash water to escape from the mine site. <br /> The Division then proceeded to inspect the pump house and the settling ponds which receive wash water <br /> from the main processing building. The Operator holds a water right for 60 cfs; the water for processing at the <br /> mine is obtained from the main diversion point on the Columbia Ditch No. 1, which is located on the north <br /> side of the site. In 1999, the Operator obtained approval from the Office of the State Engineer and the Division <br /> Page 2 of 11 <br />