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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the <br />inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />The graveled haul road was in good condition. The mine ID sign was up at the entrance. <br />West Mine <br />"The operator continues to reclaim the West Mine. Apparently, the contractor has encountered <br />some financial difficulties and the operator is working through the problems. At the time of the <br />inspection, an excavator and haul truck were in use. Another excavator was idle. No dozers were <br />on site. However, the operator was trying to get dozers back on the site. <br />The road to the West Mine was in good shape. The last portion of the road, leading down to the <br />work site, was very steep and passable only by 4x4. The gate to the West Mine was open. A <br />mine ID sign was up on the gate. <br />The contractor was excavating material from the south-facing outslope and trucking it up to the <br />portal bench for spreading and compaction. The contractor has left a lazge depression near the <br />bottom of the reclaim area to capture most of the runoff from the disturbed azea. In addition, the <br />surface area downgradient of the large depression has been left pockmarked to hold runoff. <br />Further downgradient, the contractor has left an outer lip in the outslope to act as a berm, should <br />any runoff get past the large depression and the pockmarked area. Finally, the south-facing <br />grassed outslope and silt fence offer final protection. The contractor did put some topsoil <br />material on the outside of the outslope lip. The runoff from this material would still be captured <br />by the silt fence, but it would probably be prudent to move the topsoil back behind the lip of the <br />outslope excavation. Also, the lip of the outslope excavation could be higher. Currently, the lip is <br />about two feet high. <br />The sediment pond has not been reclaimed yet, although the area that drains to the pond has been <br />greatly reduced. Because of the method of using dozers to grade material from the bottom to the <br />top of the disturbed area, a collection ditch across the reclaimed area to bring runoff into the <br />sediment pond would not be feasible. There was no water in the pond. The pond embankment <br />appeared to be stable, as were the pond inslopes. The pond spillways were functional. <br />The Division is reviewing a technical revision, submitted by the operator, that proposes the <br />installation of two sediment ponds at the base of the reclaimed azea for sediment control after <br />reclamation. However, the southern portion of the portal bench and the south-facing bench <br />outslope would need to be excavated first to provide room for the ponds. The operator stated that <br />the excavation work is approaching that situation now. <br />