2015-05-13_INSPECTION - M2015008

Home Browse Search

PERMIT #: M-2015-008 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: PSH INSPECTION DATE: May 8, 2015 OBSERVATIONS The Blue Valley Pit was inspected by Peter Hays with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division/DRMS) in response to the submittal of a technical revision request by the Operator. Mr. Baxter Kirkland with Kirkland Construction, L.L.L.P. was present during the inspection. The Operator submitted the technical revision request (TR -01) on April 29, 2015. The Division is required by Rule 1.9 to act on a technical revision within 30 days after being filed with the Division. The technical revision updates the source of water for the operation as required by Rule 6.3.3(h). The approved Mine Plan states approximately 12,000 gallons of water per day will be hauled into the pit from the Town of Kremmling. Water will be stored in an HDPE lined construction water pond near the entrance of the site. The technical revision revises the sources of water for dust control at the site. Water will be obtained from the Blue River per an agreement between Kirkland Construction (Kirkland) and Blue Valley Ranch (BVR). The agreement between Kirkland and BVR allows for 35 acre feet of water to be pumped annually from the Blue River between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2017 per a water contract between BVR and the U. S. Dept. of Interior — Bureau of Reclamation. An additional 5.5 acre feet of water can be pumped monthly from the Blue River per the water supply contract between BVR and the Colorado River Water Conservation District for the months of May, June and July of 2015. Water will still be obtained from the Town of Kremmling, as needed, and allowed per the agreement with the Town of Kremmling. The water stored in the onsite pond will be used for the road construction project as well as dust contol at the mine site according to the Operator. The site was inspected to observe the pumping equipment, water pipeline and storage pond associated with the technical revision. The pump was located along the east shoreline of the Blue River at the end of an existing ranch road. The pump was placed on pallet jacks, which were covered with plastic and surrounded by straw waddles. The pump intake hose was located in the foundation of an old pumphouse in the river. An abandonded steel waterline was oberved on the hillside east of the pumphouse structure. The abandonded waterline ran west to east up the hillside. The Operator stated the old waterline and pumphouse were used for irrigation of the ranch in the past. The current water line was observed on the surface along the southside of the ranch road from the pump towards the mine site. The waterline from the pump was 10 inch diameter HDPE pipe. The waterline continued along the west side of the mine site and crossed under the stormwater berm in the northwest corner of the mine site to a junction box. Two 4 inch diameter HDPE pipes continued from the junction box to the east and southeast, approximately following the permit boundary, to the water storage pond. All pumping equipment and waterline infrastructure were located on existing ranch disturbance, within the permit boundary or placed on the surface of the Blue Valley Ranch property without causing significant disturbance to the existing vegetation. The erosion berms were observed around the perimeter of the site. Straw waddles were observed on the outside toe of the erosion berms. The Operator stated the berms would be hydro seeded the following week. Topsoil was stockpiled in the berms in the southeast corner and the south boundary. The mine access road was established and mining excavation was progressing from the northwest to the east. The slope along the east side of the access road will be mined at a 3H:1V slope as mining progesses to the east. Mining will continue to the south following the mining of the access road slope. A processing plant and material stockpiles were observed in the northwest corner of the site. Asphalt and concrete plants were not present. Page 2 of 5