INSPEC01548

• Permit No: M2004008
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 10/3/2006
• Doc Name: Insp Rpt
• From: DRMS
• To: Joseph Curtis Harden
• Inspection Date: 10/2/2006
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 2)
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-2004-008
INSPECTION DATE 10/02/2006
INSPECTOR'S INITIALS DEG
This inspection of Permit Number M-2004-008 was conducted by Deb E. GSnima of the DRMS as a result of a citizen
complaint letter received by the Division on September 8, 2006. Mr. Curt Harden was present during this inspection. The pit is
located on the north side of Overlooked Way Road, about 4 miles northwest of Idaho Springs, and currently consists of
approximately 0.5 acres, of which approximately 0.5 acres are currently disturbed.
The mine entrance identification sign must be posted with the mine name and permit number per Rule 3.1.12(1)(c). Given the
small footprint of disturbance it appeared that all current disturbance has occurred inside the approved permit boundaries, and
was focused north of Overlooked Way Road. However, since this site lacked clearly defined permit boundary markers, this
inspectorwas unable to verify that the operator is mining within the approved permit boundaries. Therefore, per Rule 3.1.12(2)
the operator must clearly mark the boundaries of the affected area with monuments or other markers that are cleady visible and
adequate to delineate such boundaries (see Problem No. 1 and the corresponding corrective action noted on page 3 of this
report).
A secondary containment area for fuel and materials storage in the active pit area must be set up (see photos 1-4). It appeared
that fuel and other possible hazardous materials were being stored at the time of this inspection (see Problem No. 2 on pg. 3).
All storage tanks, petroleum and hazardous materials on site for any period of time shall have secondary containment. The
Operator must supply photo documentation that fuel tanks, oil containers, other hazardous material containers, and the
portable generator are stored in a proper secondary containment structure or are removed from the site on or before December
1, 2006. A berm must be constructed that is capable of containing all contents of the generator as well as various containers
including petroleum products and hazardous materials (when full) plus 10% of the total volume of these containers. In addition,
a liner shall cover the entire basin of the berm as a barrier to infiltration. During the inspection a plastic liner was observed
under the fuel tank (see arrows in photo 6). This liner (if devoid of any holes) may be used to line this containment basin. If the
liner is not intact, a new liner shall be placed at the bottom of the containment structure.
This inspector observed a range of debris on the mine site such as tires, metal, and empty 55 gallon drums (see photos 1-4). If
not being used for the active mine operation, all of this debris must be legally removed from the site on or before December 1,
2006 (see Problem No. 3 on pg. 4). It is noted that the full tanks of propane and compressed oxygen found on site are currently
being utilized directly for mining related activities (see photo 1).
With regard to the complaint filed with the Division on September 8, 2006, this inspector found no evidence of substantial on or
off-site contamination as a result of Mr. Harden's mining operation, regardless of the potential volume of the containers found
on site. This inspector was only able to locate two small (2' x 2') areas (off of the permitted area) on Overlooked Way Road that
appear to have been contaminated with oil or oil products (see photos 5 & 6). At this time the Division is unable to make a
determination as to the timing, quantity, or source of this spill. The Division will enforce the actions that fall within the jurisdiction
of the Division's Rules and Regulations, which are listed on page 3 of this report in an effort to mitigate the potential for future
contamination events.
As a final note for future reference, this site is correctly positioned in the DRMS online GIS.
Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Deb E. GOnima at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety,
Denver Office, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, Colorado 80203, phone number 303-866-4179.
I & E Contact Address
NAME
OPERATOR
STREET
CITY/STATEIZIP
Mr. Curt Harden
P.O. Box 1207
Idaho Springs. CO 80452
cc:
^ CE
^ BL
^ FS
^ HW
^ HMWMD (CH)
^ SE
^ WOCD (CH)
^ OTHER
cc: JoAnn Sorensen, Land Use Division Manager, Clear Creek County, P.O. Box 2000, Georgetown, CO 80444
David Stahl, University of Colorado Healih Sciences Center, School of Medicine, 4200 East 9~h Ave, Campus Box
C319, Denver, CO 80262
Carl Mount, DMG via a-mail