2016-04-01_INSPECTION - M2012016

Home Browse Search

PERMIT #: M-2012-016 INSPECTOR’S INITIALS: ACY INSPECTION DATE: March 22, 2016 Page 2 of 11 OBSERVATIONS This inspection was conducted as part of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) normal monitoring program. The Nolte Pit #1 is a Special Operations 111c permitted site that includes a total of 22.34 permitted acres. This site is located approximately 0.75 miles west of Parachute, Colorado in Garfield County and is accessed from Highway 6. Chuck Whiteman and Jeff Simonson represented Puckett Land Company and accompanied Amy Yeldell of the Division on the inspection. Mining was completed in the fall of 2012. And in the 2013 annual report the site was declared to be in final reclamation. The mine identification sign and affected area boundary markers are in place and in compliance 3.1.12. A sign is posted at the natural gas pad entrance from Highway 6. Please note that the mining plan designates a different site access location. Please resolve this in the form of a revision. The permit boundary is clearly delineated by wire fence and T-posts. The natural gas pad is located within the mining permit boundary. A clear distinction needs to be made between the gas pad’s footprint that is covered under the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s (COGCC) jurisdiction and what remain Puckett Land Company’s reclamation responsibility. Land that does not meet the mining permit’s reclamation requirements but the operator wishes to release will require a statement from the COGCC acknowledging that they have jurisdiction and will assume responsibility for reclamation of affected land s. This documentation should be submitted with an acreage release request. No fuel or structures related to mining remain in place. In the January 2015 inspection erosion was cited as a problem. Specifically “The rills and gullies observed in December 2012 are still evident. It does not appear that the Operator has conducted any maintenance on the site since it was last inspected by the Division. There are rills and gullies forming on the outsides of the channels. More grading is necessary to complete the final grade of 3:1 slopes as submitted in the reclamation plan” As a result slopes were reworked in 2015. All problems have been abated. Currently slopes are bare and hard packed. Some new riling and sediment erosion was observed from spring snow melt. No off site damages were observed. Without vegetation establishment the operator will continue to struggle with erosion and thus it is not cited as a problem at this time. Little to no vegetation has been established on the slopes. It is unclear if seeding was conducted post grading. The Division gave no guidance to construct terraces to better control stormwater. For the most part the terraces are intact but some blow outs and undermining from ponding water was observed. Less recently disturbed soils have a higher concentration of vegetation and are closer to meeting the reclamation requirements. Several rock armored ditches have been constructed as well as check dams and sediment ponds. The operator is encouraged to monitor and properly maintain the stormwater BMPs and slopes to avoid potential future violations and/or problems. Under the approved reclamation plan all slopes should be graded to a 3:1. The center slope 150ft wide and 50 ft. vertical is permitted to be 2.5:1. Division staff would like to clarify that the reclamation plan does not mention terracing. This discrepancy in field conditions not following the reclamation plan can be resolved one of two ways. Option 1: by June 3, 2016 submit a technical revision clarifying that terracing may be used in conjunction with smooth 3:1 sloping where deemed necessary for erosion protection. Also clarify any other changes you wish to make to improve reclamation success or where field conditions deviate from the