2024-09-05_INSPECTION - C1981018

Home Browse Search

August 27, 2024 C-1981-018/Deserado Mine TJ1 Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 Page 3 of 12 Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage – Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: There are three ponds located in the main facilities area: the DP-1 Pond, the PP-1 Pond and the PP-2 Pond. The DP-1 Pond is located on the southern part of the lower facilities bench. DP-1 collects all runoff from the from the three facilities benches. The outlet structure was clear of debris and the pond was discharging at the time of inspection. The embankments appear stable with well-established vegetative cover (Photo 2). The emergency spillway has minor amounts of vegetation, but still appears to be able to convey water and is well armored. There were no erosional concerns identified. Channels that convey water to the pond are in good condition, free of obstruction, and are functioning as designed. The PP-1 Pond is located on the middle bench of the facilities area near the prep plant. The pond was below the discharge level. There were no erosion or stability issues identified in the PP-1 Pond. The PP-2 Pond is located on the upper facilities bench. The outlet structure was in good condition with no vegetation obscuring the outlet. Water diversion ditches throughout the main facilities area were unobstructed and stable. The B Seam Dewatering System No. 1 was active during the inspection. Cells were impounding water. There was well established vegetation on the embankments of the cells. The cells were stable with no erosional or other stability features noted. The Last Chance Pond was discharging approximately 20-25gpm at the time of the inspection. (Photo 3) The SS-2 Pond is located at the northwestern base of the Slot Storage Facility. The pond was dry at the time of the inspection. The embankments of the pond were well vegetated and stable with no indications of erosion. Culverts are located around the Nitrogen Plant to divert water away from the pad and roadway. The downstream section of one of the culverts is plugged with sediment (Photo 4). Please clean out the culverts and associated ditches or excess sediment. The RS-1 Sump and the RR-1 Pond are located at the south side of the Rail Loadout. The RS-1 Sump was dry and stable. There were no indications of erosion. The RR-1 Pond was also dry. The embankments of the pond seem stable. The erosion feature on the northern embankment that has been noted in previous inspection reports does not appear to have grown in size. (Photo 5) The Rail Loadout Storage South Ditch is free of obstructions and able to convey water. Pond RP-1 is located at the base of the reclaimed RP-1 Refuse Pile. The pond was dry at the time of the inspection. The embankments of the pond were stable with no indications of erosion observed. There were no obstructions in the outlet - the trash rack over the pond’s outlet was clean. Two ponds are located at the northern base of Refuse Pile RP-2/3/4. The RP -2/3 Pond is located on the pile’s northeast corner. The Pond consists of three cells – one of the upper cells was holding water at the time of the inspection. The channels above the ponds appear clear of debris. No erosional features were noted on the embankments of the conveyance ditches. The trash rack was clear of debris. The RP-4 Pond is located at the northwest base of the pile. The pond dry during the inspection. An animal burrow was seen on the eastern embankment of the pond and was filled during the inspection to prevent instability (Photo 6). The outlet for the RP-4 Pond is capped with a trash rack. The outlet was clear of debris.