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• (Page 2) • MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-80-228 INSPECTION DATE 12/10/98 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of 112 construction material permits, and as a follow up visit to inspect a condition noted during the 5/19/98 inspection. The operator was contacted about the inspection, and though this office left several phone messages at his Durango number, no return call was received from the operator. The operator's representative named on page one was present at the plant office, but did not accompany this inspector during the inspection. This permit was converted to a 112 permit on 8/18/98, before which time the site was thoroughly inspected and bond recalculated. The main reason for this inspection, as noted above, was to observe whether a condition observed previously, had been remedied. There were numerous barrels and tanks of fuel, motor oil, waste oil and antifreeze stored in an unprotected manner. This was brought to the operator's attention in the report for that inspection and in a separate letter (part of the conversion correspondence). The location where these were stored was near the edge of the pad and included no secondary containment. Though this was not noted as a problem at that time, the operator stated that these would be disposed of or properly stored, as appropriate. (It was stated by the operator that clean up of these features should not be included in the financial warranty, since their disposal or storage was scheduled to occur very soon.) During this inspection, it was observed that the various vessels previously observed were still present, plus there are many more vessels onsite now. In addition to the fuel, antifreeze, and motor oil, there are at least thirty (30) 55-gallon drums in several locations throughout the permit area. None of the original or additional vessels were in a protected location or included secondary containment. Most of the new ones appear to be at least half full of waste oil. Several of them are leaking significantly (especially in north end of east bench); two of them are half barrels, open on top and full of oil (north of fuel location). Many of them are placed on the soil, which now exhibits staining and puddling of oil. Several of them (including the two open half barrels) are haphazardly placed near the fuel location and are less than two feet from ti re tracks from mine equipment. There are several 5-gallon buckets up on the east bench which have leaked oil and stained the soil. There are about ten (10) lead acid batteries stored haphazardly on the ground in these various areas. it for these reasons that this in~pecror now feel that the operator has allowed an easily r hi fi'r' n to become wor a The potential for a spi>> seems more imminent now 3 without proper containment could spread to areas off site or contaminate groundwater or ~~' ~ ^~~ Correction of this situation must include nromot prop icposal of the wasr o'~ conta'ners and their contents the removal or orooer storage of the fuel motor oil ifreeze plus the thorough removal and proper disposal of all contaminated soils P-c e o ne of this rep ort no tes t wo to pycs as p ro blem s "Acid or toxic ma teri als" an d "g ene ral mi ne p}~ in complian ce". These spe cifi call y relat e to t he p resence of the ab ove -na med mat eri al s both as p resent conta minan ts an d fo r the f uture p otent ial for unco ntro lle d s n~~ ls P1 as s h la t pane of this report for the corrective action date by which the clean must be completed and this Division notified The financial warranty, though recently recalculated, does not include the costs of the clean up described above. This office will require the operator to provide any additional bond amount necessary after the corrective action date, for all outstanding decontamination.