2016-01-13_INSPECTION - M1985112

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PERMIT #: M-1985-112 INSPECTOR’S INITIALS: PSH INSPECTION DATE: January 13, 2016 Page 2 of 10 CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: The Operator must coordinate with Mr. Francis to clean out the ditch, replace or repair the existing culvert pipe and repair or improve the land bridge to allow access to the land north of the land bridge. The Operator must update the Division on the status of the repairs within 60 days of the mailing date of this inspection report. CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE: 3/20/16 OBSERVATIONS The Loloff Mine was inspected by Peter Hays with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division/DRMS) in response to a citizen complaint (CT‐05) received on November 30, 2015 from Mr. Rocky Francis. The Francis property, 351 East 8th Street, Greeley, CO 80632, is located southwest of the Loloff Mine. The complaint letter was forwarded to the Operator on December 3, 2015. The complaint letter states the mining operation has affected Mr. Francis’ wells and damaged the river bow (channel) which runs through his property. Mr. Francis states his wells have either gone dry or are not able to be pumped and the mining operation has caused the channel to be filled with silt and has undermined the 48 inch diameter culvert in the channel under the land bridge on his property. A well protection and water level monitoring agreement dated July 3, 2013 was signed by Loloff Construction, Inc. and Mr. Francis to allow Loloff Construction to monitor the water depth and capacity of the wells at Loloff expense and mitigate any adverse impacts to the wells attributed to Loloff mining and reclamation activities. The groundwater monitoring program was approved as part of TR‐01 on July 2, 2013. The Operator has not been collecting and reporting the required monthly groundwater monitoring data from the wells surrounding the Loloff Mine. Loloff Construction, Inc. is required to provide monthly groundwater elevation data for the surrounding groundwater wells and western Derr Pit piezometers with the annual reports. The Operator must initiate the monitoring program and submit the data with the annual report to the Division from the date of this inspection forward. The approved Groundwater Impact Mitigation Plan for the site states should the levels in the existing wells change by 2‐4 feet then Loloff Construction, Inc. will mitigate by recharging at locations along the pit to increase the levels of the groundwater so that the impact from dewatering is minimized. If the recharging method is not effective the mitigation measures would be: 1. Work with the well owners that is affected to re‐set their existing pumps to a lower level in order to mitigate any flow impacts to the existing well. 2. If the method in Number 1 is not effective then drilling a new well or deepening the existing well or providing water service from the City of Greeley or North Weld Water. Additionally, a specific mitigation plan for the Francis and Harrell wells states, if there is a drop of more than 2 feet in the Francis wells, Loloff Construction will work with the well owner to provide a solution to any problems they have with their wells.