INSPEC07023

• Permit No: C1981018
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 2/26/2002
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE
Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made
during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection
and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action.
This was a partial inspection of the Deserado Mine, focusing on drainage and sediment controls at two
areas; the East Portal area bench and access road (reclaimed last fall), and the refuse disposal areas.
Sediment Pond DP-], at the D Portal Area was also observed. I was accompanied on the inspection by
Mike Boulay, DMG hydrologist from the Denver office, and operator representative Scott Wanstedt of
BME. Inspection began at gam at the reclaimed Refuse Pile 1 (RP-1) azea. Weather was clear and cold,
Snow cover on portions of the reclaimed slopes and ditches at RP-1 made detailed observations difficult in
some azeas. Active refuse azeas were for the most part snow-free, as were the recently reclaimed East
Portal area slopes, which aze south facing.
Refuse Area RP-1
'fire refuse area and adjacent disturbances were initiallyrevegetated in the eazly 1990's. Due to heavy
infestation of the invasive annual exotic cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), the pile was disked and re-seeded in
the fall of 1997. In recent yeazs, perennial grasses have become established and are [he dominant life form
over most azeas of the pile. Cheatgrass remains a component of the stand, but is not dominant as it was
prior to re-treatment. Forbs and shrubs remain a very minor component of the stand. Therevegetated
slopes aze stable with no azeas of excessive erosion. Perimeter containment and diversion ditches also
appeaz to be stable and functional, with no problems observed with respect to drainage/sediment controls in
the pile vicinity since [he refuse azea was initially reclaimed. RP-I disturbed area is approximately 13
acres.
Sediment Pond RP-1 located near the base of the refuse area was iced over several feet below the top of the
primary spillway riser.
Active Refuse Areas
General Background
Currently active refuse areas are Pile 2-3&4 combined (approximately 55 acres) and Pile SA
(approximately 66 acres). The combining of formerly separate Piles 2-3, and Pile 4 was approved in 1998,
to allow for more efficient use of disturbed area (e.g. a narrow "valley" between the two piles was allowed
to be filled in with refuse, which eliminated two adjacent collection ditches and extended the period of
active use for the facility). The combined pile is projected to remain active through 2003 (depending on
mining conditions), with reclamation tentatively projected for 2004. Pile SA, immediately to the west of
the combined pile, was opened in 1994, with active use projected through 2006. A total of up to 11 refuse
piles aze projected in the permit, with Pile SB the next pile scheduled to be opened, in 2005.
There are three sediment ponds in place; RP-2/3, which collects disturbed drainage from the eastern portion
of the combined pile] RP-4, which collects distwbed drainage from the western portion of the combined
pile, and RP-SA; which collects disturbed drainage from Pile SA. The large expanse ofunreclaimed refuse
at Deserado results in significant quantities of runoff from storm events with consequent unsightly erosion
of refuse slopes, and deposition of refuse material in perimeter collection ditches and sediment ponds.
Refuse piles at Deserado were designed without terrace benches typically incorporated in refuse pile
design, and the relatively long slope lengths on the combined pile contribute to the extent of erosion from
the bare refuse outslopes. The operator justifies the large area of active refuse, and the absence of terrace