2016-05-23_INSPECTION - M1977057

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PERMIT #: M-1977-057 INSPECTOR’S INITIALS: ACY INSPECTION DATE: May 10, 2016 Page 3 of 11 consolidated material may be left at a maximum of 60 degrees or 1.5:1 slope. In laserfiche there are documents from application process where the Division requested additional geotechnical stability analysis for such steep slopes. However nothing further on this topic can be found in the file. Such steep sloping is non - typical of the Division by today’s standards especially with the post mining land use of Pastureland (limited cattle grazing). The Division would caution the operator about leaving such steep slopes especially in unconsolidated material as this could lead to future erosion issues. All slopes should naturally blend in with surrounding topography and be stable and free of erosion. It is also noted that all recent bond calculations and inspections have made the assumption that slopes will be reclaimed to the Divisions standard 3:1 slope. Permit documentation is attached. The original permit application mentioned the mine access road needs to be incorporated into the mining permit boundary. No maps to date have depict this road. Also the original reclamation plan does not specify if the mine access road shall be removed upon final reclamat ion. Please clarify this through a Technical Revision (TR). The current site conditions do not meet the approved reclamation plan configuration. The operator shall submit a Technical Revision to update the reclamation plan to meet as built conditions pri or to requesting release. In the July 1998 succession of operator inspection report (attached), Division staff noted that Pioneer believed the site to be larger than the approved boundary. Division staff recommended that the site be resurveyed to distinguish what disturbances were pre-law verse active mining. The Division has no records of this delineation being made. The original permit boundary is a 5 ac square. No new maps have been submitted since the 1977 permit application. There are no coordinates t o pinpoint where the corners are located within the mine site. Staff digitized using google earth what appears to be the affected lands. This permit boundary does not match the boundary delineated in the permit. The site appears to be approximately 11 acr es which is larger than the approved 5 acres or a 110c permit limit. This acreage discrepancy is cited a problem. Depending on the extent in which land has been affected outside of the permit boundary this may be a possible violation of mining without a permit or failure to protect lands from off-site damages. The Division is requesting that the operator survey the current disturbance to clarify the total affected acreage to date. Then the operator shall provide the Division with documentation of their findings, including an updated map, by the corrective action date. Upon receipt of this information the Division will make its determination of how to proceed forward and rectify the situation. During the inspection it was mentioned this site would be fu lly reclaimed or transferred if a successive operator was found. Please note that the Division cannot process a Succession of Operator request until the acreage discrepancy is resolved nor can the site be released. Currently the Division holds a Financial Warranty in the amount of $19,300 for this site. The last surety increase was calculated in 2012. The Division will wait for the acreage discrepancy to be resolved prior to determining if the current bond is adequate or if a surety increase shall be neces sary. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to: Amy Yeldell at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 1313 Sherman St., Room 215, Denver, CO 80203. Direct contact can be made by phone at 970 -254- 8511 or via email at amy.yeldell@state.co.us