Laserfiche WebLink
PERMIT #: M-1985-022 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br />INSPECTION DATE: September 18, 2015 <br />The lack of Mining and Reclamation Plan Maps which conform to the required mapping criteria has been cited <br />as a problem and will require corrective action by the Operator. Please see the first page of this report for <br />additional information. <br />Financial Warranty: <br />The Division currently holds a financial warranty in the amount of $140,350.00. The financial warranty was last <br />calculated in 2014 when the Reclamation Permit was transferred. A partial bond calculation was performed <br />and the Division has determined that the financial warranty remains adequate to complete reclamation of the <br />site. A full financial warranty calculation will be performed during the next regular monitoring inspection. <br />Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan: <br />Active mining operations were taking place in the northern portion of the mine site. Material is being pushed <br />downslope with a dozer; mining slopes are maintained at approximately 3H:1V. The material this then placed <br />into a hopper which feeds the portable wash plant. The material is then sluiced to remove the free gold. <br />Water from the wash plant which contains fines is routed through a ditch and into two HDPE pipes which <br />connect to a series of sediment ponds on the southern portion of the mine site. <br />A substantial amount of refuse is present on-site. The refuse includes trailers, metal tanks, old equipment and <br />scrap metal left over from previous Operators. The current Operator has started to remove the refuse from <br />the site and has consolidated the refuse in the active mining area. The cleanliness of the site is much improved <br />since the last inspection. In addition, the Operator has graded the area where the wash plant is located, <br />creating a level work platform for stockpiles and equipment storage. <br />Revegetation: <br />The Division observed canada thistle growing on the outslope of the sediment ponds. Canada thistle is a List B <br />Colorado noxious weed. Pursuant to Hard Rock Rule 3.1.10(6), methods of weed control shall be employed for <br />all prohibited noxious weed species. A review of the permit file found the Operator does not have an <br />approved weed control plan on file. The presence of noxious weeds on the mine site has been cited as a <br />problem and will require corrective action by the Operator. Please see the first page of the report for <br />additional details. <br />The Division observed native thistle around the wash plant. The Operator should take care to ensure that <br />weed control is performed on noxious thistle species and not native species. Please contact the Division or the <br />Park County Weed Coordinator for guidance on weed identification. <br />Sediment Control: <br />As noted above, the site was active at the time of the operation. The source of water for the Bullger Basin <br />Placer is from the Pennsylvania Creek; the water right is for 2.3 cubic feet per second. The water is diverted <br />through a pipeline to a small pond on the west side of the site and is then pumped to the top of the mine site <br />where the vibration screen is located. The pipeline to divert water was replaced and the old piping has been <br />removed and stockpiled adjacent to the sediment ponds. There are four ponds located at the south end of the <br />site. Water is gravity fed into the upper sediment pond through two pipes. Currently, the water flows through <br />three of the sediment ponds before it is pumped back up to the wash plant. The three sediment ponds which <br />contain water were inspected; no seepage or water loss from the ponds was observed. <br />The Operator inquired about lining the upper sediment pond and possibly eliminating one of the lower settling <br />Page 4 of 7 <br />