2017-06-02_INSPECTION - C1981025

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Mine Site Inspection Mine Name: North Thompson Creek Mine Permittee: MINREC, Inc. Permit ID#: C-1981-025 Inspection Date: May 16, 2017 9:00 — 10:30 Inspection Type: Partial Oversight Inspection Weather Conditions: Warm, breezy, sunny / building clouds, dry Participants: Christine Belka, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) #182 Clayton Wein, Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) North Thompson Creek is a reclaimed underground coal mine located south of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Mining operations are complete and the site is in permanent cessation. This was a partial oversight inspection as well as fieldwork for OSMRE's 2017 Stream Buffer Zone Exemptions topic - specific evaluation. The permit identification sign was in place at the site entrance from the North Thompson Creek Road as required under Rule 4.02.2. There is perpetual discharge emanating from the Number 3 and Number 1 portals. Both portals have been sealed and discharge is routed via pipe to a 5 -pond treatment series (Long Pond, T-1, T-2, P-9, and the Refuse Pond). Discharge from the Number 3 portal has high iron concentrations, resulting in red -orange staining in Long Pond. Although the mine has a discharge permit, the landowner retains all water for agricultural use and none is discharged from the site. Approximately 15 gpm was running into the pond system during this inspection. The diversion channel from pond P-9 to discharge Outfall 001A has been bermed and water would need to be pumped to it in order to leave the permit area. Instead, water flows from P-9 via open channel to the Refuse Area Pond for containment and use. All ponds were holding water during this inspection and functioning as designed. All pond embankments were well vegetated and stable. Cattails and algae are prolific within the ponds. The bridge over North Thompson Creek has deteriorated and is not recommended for use. It has been retained at the landowner's request to support wildlife habitat. This site was disturbed prior to the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act; however, it was subsequently permitted and performance standards now apply. The remaining permit area consists primarily of the treatment pond system and reclaimed road corridors. These disturbances are largely within 100 feet of the North Thompson Creek, a perennial stream. All ponds have been in place for years and no new or unapproved disturbances were noted. No stream buffer zone markers were present. These are required under Rule 4.02.5. Although there is no equipment on site (meaning there is a very low likelihood of anyone conducting unapproved activities within the stream buffer zone), I do recommend placing the required markers. Please see the OSMRE Evaluation Year 2017 topic -specific evaluation report for a full discussion of activities within the stream buffer zone at this site. No enforcement actions were taken and none were pending as of this inspection. Page I 1