2016-11-28_INSPECTION - M1980244

Home Browse Search

PERMIT #: M-1980-244 INSPECTOR’S INITIALS: TC1 INSPECTION DATE: September 20, 2016 Page 2 of 7 OBSERVATIONS The Division conducted a monitoring inspection of the site on September 20, 2016. Messrs. Erik Munroe, Cheyne Mann and Tyler O’Donnell represented the Operator during various parts of the inspection . Tim Cazier represented the Division. The following facilities and areas were inspected during this site visit:  High Grade Mill (HGM);  Buckley Annex/Bulk Emulsion Facility – petroleum products, general housekeeping;  Explosives Storage Area – petroleum products, general housekeeping;  Squaw Gulch Valley Leach Facility (SGVLF) – HVSCS Water levels, Ponded Solution;  Arequa Gulch Valley Leach Facility (SGVLF) – edge of liner signs;  Squaw Gulch Adsorption, Desorption and Recovery (SGADR / ADR2). On Site Meeting: The Division representative met with Ms. Meg Burt and Ms. Clara Steward to discuss the following permit related issues: I. Technical Revision review status for TRs 78 and 80 through 85. At the time of the inspection, all seven of these TRs were in various stages of review. At the time of this inspection report, all but TRs 81 and 84 have been approved. TR-81 deals with the HGM secondary containment with the decision date currently extended to 11/30/2016. TR-84 proposed a new Ironclad Facility access/entrance road and has since been withdrawn. II. SGVLF 80 percent reporting level. The Division representative had a follow-up discussion with CC&V personnel on the subject of the 80 percent capacity reporting limit for the SGVLF . As a result of CC&V’s August 17, 2016 response to the HVSCS water levels observed during the Division’s July 19, 2016 inspection, the 80 percent level capacity level appears to be four feet higher than initially given by the design reports. CC&V wishes to keep the reporting level to be the initial level of 94 ft (or elev. 9,430 ft) instead of the actual, revised 98 ft (or elev. 9,434 ft). As the permit requirement is to report to the Division when the LVSCS exceeds the 80 percent capacity, there is potential for misinterpretation and/or confusion in the future in the future if this change is not incorporated into the permit. The Division ’s position is that this change needs to be accomplished via the technical revision process. III. The Division had requested inspection of the AGVLF lead detection system (LDS). The Process Dept. representative was only familiar with the low volume solution collection system (LVSCS) and could not assist with this requested part of the inspection. The Division had an informal discussion with Mr. Jeff Campbell about the LDS. Mr. Campbell stated he could assist the Division with an LDS inspection during a later site visit. An LDS inspection was planned for November 2016. Site Inspection: High Grade Mill: As part of the HGM leach circuit secondary containment capacity corrective action (reference the April 28, 2016 Inspection Report), the concrete sill height was measured to be 30 inches (see Photo 1). The water level in the HGM area stormwater sumps were observed to be well below the maximum previously observed levels that likely resulted in the mill platform area seepage reported previously (see Photo 2). Only