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PERMIT#:M-1992-051 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS:HR1 <br /> INSPECTION DATE:January 23,2024 <br /> 2021 (letter attached below). The Operator has not yet been contacted by CDPHE for renewal of the most recent <br /> discharge permit from 2021. The discharge point is located on the southeast corner of the property,just south of <br /> the entrance gate. As the pit floor has been graded to the north and stormwater generally flows back towards the <br /> pit, stormwater discharged through this point is predominately only from around the scale house area. <br /> An-5-acre section of the Operator's property boundary is located adjacent to the northwestern side of the <br /> approved permit boundary. The Operator has been using this area to store a stockpile of overburden material <br /> (Photo 11). Scrapers were noted during the inspection to be travelling between the mining operation and this <br /> -5-acre lot to deposit material. This area of overburden stockpile is considered affected land as per Rule 1.1(3) <br /> but is at present being stored outside of the approved permit boundary. The corners of this overburden pile were <br /> recorded with a GPS. The stockpile area was determined to be-2.8 acres. Therefore,the Division is citing a <br /> possible violation for affecting area outside the permit boundary.The corrective action for this possible <br /> violation will require a hearing before the Mined Land Reclamation Board,tentatively scheduled for <br /> April 17,2024. <br /> The northern portion of the permit area was inspected first. Backfilling of this area(Photo 6) seemed to still be <br /> underway. The Operator stated in a follow-up email that this area still contains material to be eventually mined. <br /> There is currently no active mining of this particular area. There is another large pile of material to be mined to <br /> the south of the northern permit boundary (Photo 4). The active highwall was benched and was being mined in <br /> compliance with MSHA standards as pointed out by the Operator(Photo 10). Two veins of material are <br /> currently being targeted within the highwall.No standing water was observed on the immediate pit floor; <br /> however,mining takes place near the groundwater surface level so the pit floor is often muddy in some areas <br /> (Photos 8 and 9).A small pond was situated located on the western side of the pit floor(Photo 7). When <br /> discussed with the Operator,the pond was determined to be holding exposed groundwater. The Operator stated <br /> that this impoundment was never meant to be a permanent feature of the mine. The Division suggested <br /> immediate corrective action of this situation,which the Operator acted upon swiftly. The exposed groundwater <br /> pond was completely backfilled as of February 2, 2024(Photo 16). The Operator sent updated photographs on <br /> February 9, 2024 which show the area has remained dry, even after a heavy snowfall event(Photo 17). <br /> The Operator stated that if groundwater is ever encountered during mining,the muddy areas will be <br /> immediately backfilled to avoid groundwater exposure.No erosional issues were noted at the site's active and <br /> non-active highwall areas (Photos 9 and 10). <br /> The Division also observed a newly created settling pond(Photos 14 and 15)built in anticipation of creation of <br /> a wash plant at the site. Water was initially purchased from the City of Florence and used to fill this pond <br /> beginning in 2022 (receipts attached),however Langston Concrete, Inc. is no longer sourcing water to fill the <br /> pond as plans to add a wash plant to the site had recently been deprioritized. The current Mine Plan map and <br /> narrative states that"No water diversions or impoundments will exist onsite". As such,this impoundment has <br /> not been accounted for within the approved Mine Plan materials or within the bond currently held by the <br /> Division. The current mine plan also does not allow for the addition of wash plant structures and foundations. <br /> Therefore,the Division is citing a problem for failure to follow the approved mine plan.Pursuant to C.R.S. <br /> 34-32.5-112 (1)(c)(VI),the Mine Plan map and narrative will need to be updated to include these new features <br /> and should detail plans for a new wash plant facility, including discussion of all new features and structures <br /> associated with the wash plant. The Reclamation Plan narrative will need to be updated to discuss reclamation <br /> of these features. The operator shall submit a Technical Revision,with the required $216 revision fee,to update <br /> and clarify the current approved mine plan to reflect existing and proposed activities by the corrective action <br /> date. <br /> Sufficient material(fines, considered excess spoil at this site)were observed to be available for backfill on the <br /> southwestern end of the site(Photo 12). The Operator stated their intent to potentially process these fines for <br /> Page 3 of 12 <br />