INSPEC03872

• Permit No: M1977342
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 10/6/1993
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 10/6/1993
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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MINE ID f OR PROSPECTING ID ~ M-77-342
INSPECTION DATE 10-6-93 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ACS
The scope of this inspection was quite broad in that I had never inspected the mine or mill
sites in the capacity of a reclamation specialist, and will be assuming lead responsibility
for the operation from Gregg Squire. To a large extent, the purpose of this inspection was
to gain an overview of all aspects of the operation. The scope of this inspection report,
on the other hand, ie somewhat limited in that large portions of the Division's Henderson
Mine and Mill file have been missing for some time. Ae a result, I do not have the detailed
mining and reclamation plan information typically used as a basis from which to focus an
inspection. Jay Jones indicated that he could copy the MLRB Permit files in CLIMAX'e
possession, and provide the copies to the Division by early to mid December. The Division
greatly appreciates this effort on the part of the operator.
Mine Site (Clear Creek Countv)
Division inspectors received an overview of the mine facilities, including a discussion of
the long term surface water monitoring program that has been employed for the west fork of
Clear Creek, as well ae the ground water monitoring program initiated to comply with recently
promulgated Rule 6.2(3).
The Urad mine portal, on the south aide of Red Mountain in the Woods Creek drainage, was
plugged by the operator with a hydraulic bulkhead seal. As a result, wa~_er that formerly
discharged from the Urad portal now backs up the ad it and is mingled with Henderson Mine
water. The Urad-Henderson connection ie such that very little hydrostatic bead has developed
on the bulkhead. The operator has installed facilities to treat Henderson mine water
underground, but due to difficulties with the sludge generated at the underground facility,
the surface water treatment plant was functioning at the time of this inspection. Once the
underground system is on line, the surface treatment facilities will continue to be
maintained ae a back up. Sodium hydroxide (caustic) is used at Henderson for water
treatment. The operator stated that there is no outdoor chemical storage at the mine site.
Although chemical handling and storage was not a topic for this inspection, it was noted that
the entire mine site ie extremely clean and well organized.
Division inapectore made a brief tour of the upper and middle mine yards. It was noted that
the mine site entrance sign had been posted in accordance with Rule 6.7. Facilities at the
upper yard include the main shaft (fl) and hoist house, middle yard facilities include
ventilation shafts, administration building and employees parking, as well ae the power
substation. The steep elope between the two yards has been re-vegetated. There ie some rill
and gully erosion visible on the elope - the operator stated that moat of the erosion
features developed before vegetation had established, and had since stabilized. The elope
will be an area for scrutiny during future inspections.
Much of the development rock at the mine site has been graded and seeded. The operator
stated that any development rock piles that had not been reclaimed coneistecl of material that
was still in use for berm material, road maintenance, etc. Much of the development rock
brought to surface at the Henderson Mine is non-mineralized, pre-Cambrian granitic material.
Surface water coming off of Red Mountain to the south of the mine facilities area ie
intercepted in a diversion ditch and routed around the south edge of the mine yards. The
intercepted water ie discharged to the west fork of Clear Creek east of the mine site. One
stretch of the west fork of Clear Creek ie routed into a pipe and under ths~ lower mine yard.
Division inapectore visited the upstream and downstream surface water monitoring locations
on the west fork of Clear Creek. It was noted that the creek flows over pre-Cambrian
basement at both locations, which will make the surface water monitoring data useful in
establishing ambient ground water quality for the Bite. The operator had recently completed
the task of replacing the pipe that carries treated mine water to the Urad pond with an HDPE
conduit. The area disturbed by the pipe installation was being seeded at the time of the