2003-05-19_INSPECTION - M2001054

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(Page 2) MINE ID#OR PROSPECTING ID# M-2001-054 INSPECTION DATE 5/7/03 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 110 permits. The operator's representative was contacted about the inspection, and a time was arranged to meet at the site for the inspection. The operator named on page one was present throughout the inspection. The required permit ID sign was posted at the entrance to the site(base of northern access road). The entire permit boundary was inspected,and boundary markers were observed at all corners. This site is steep and timbered,with an uneven surface. It is especially important that the entire boundary be marked in a manner that is visible and durable. Since it was often difficult to see from one marker to the next, it is recommended that additional markers be installed wherever necessary to adequately follow the permit boundary. Also, since the mining plan is phased to coincide with the series of benches to be created by mining here, and there are buffer strips along the edges of the permit boundary, the phases and buffers should well marked also. At this time, there is no problem with this topic, though additional markers are recommended, and all permit markers must be maintained. Much of the site will become level benches created by the excavation and removal of material,which requires the prior removal of timber from at least the approved"footprint"of the roads, benches, bench slopes, and new runoff channel. Timber cutters have been active at the site recently, removing logs and leaving slash for the operator to dispose of. Some slash still covers the unmined slope, and some has been burned onsite. A rough slot has been bulldozed in upper portions of the planned general location of the creek channel that is to be constructed. The slot does not constitute the finished channel,but appears to have been constructed mainly to afford access for loggers to the upper slopes on this property. The natural channel in which Bridal Veil Creek was presently flowing touches the SE corner of the permit area, and continues downhill on the property immediately south of the permit area, but does not cross the permit area. The site was active at the time of the inspection, with piled pitrun being run through a small screen. Some hauling was occurring too. There are stockpiles of pitrun, screened gravel of a couple sizes, larger material being saved for riprap, and reject material. These are all activities approved in the mining plan. As mentioned above,the mining is to be phased according to the approved plan. Otherdetails included in the approved mining plan specify a certain sequence to the overall activities and development of the site. Specifically,the phased plan requires that during the first year a runoff channel is to be established for the portion of Bridal Veil Creek which crosses (or will cross)the site, and that a sediment control basin and spillway structure be constructed. After those structures are in place, the lower bench (Bench #1)may be excavated. The runoff and sediment control structures are not constructed at this time, although mining on Benches#1 and #2 has been occurring. This is not in compliance with the approved mining plan. The plan states that after Bench #1 is finished and the backslope is established, then the middle bench (Bench #2) may be excavated. This sequence of activities is not being followed. In actuality,only a small portion of Bench#1 has been excavated, and Bench#2 has been about half excavated. An additional document submitted during the permit application review,called the "Engineering Report for Slope Stability," states that upon completion of mining each bench in its proper order, the respective bench slopes will be established prior to proceeding to the next bench. (Note: The approved plan specifies that bench slopes are to be set at 1.5:1 gradients,not 60 degree slopes. Slopes steeper than 1.5:1 were determined to be unstable in the long run.) The slope stability report is part of the permit and its details must be followed also. Bench#1 has not been completed,and the 1.5:1 slope has not been established,though Bench#2 has been active. This is out of compliance with the approved mining plan. The approved mining plan also requires a 20-foot setback from the northern permit boundary(which is the property line),where no mining is to occur. The operator stated that all existing trees would remain in that buffer. Though this office does not have jurisdiction over the overall appearance of permitted sites, there is jurisdiction over how much of a site is disturbed, and whether disturbance extends outside the permitted area boundary. The northern entrance road is to lead to Bench#1 and is not to encroach on the 20-foot buffer strip, nor is it to provide access to operations on Bench#2. However, the operator has constructed and continues to use two separate ramp roads leading up to the second bench. The northern end of the second bench is accessed by a ramp road that lies within the buffer strip, whose construction required the cutting of trees and earthmoving,creating disturbance up to the location of the permit boundary line. The road is located outside the area approved for such activities. The road cut was made into the native material, leaving a vertical cut face that ranges from 5 to 15 feet high,with the top of the cut located on the permit boundary line. This has produced an unstable slope having the potential to fail and cause offsite damage, which would be a possible violation of the permit. Since the road does not match the configuration shown in the surveyed maps in the application, as approved, this is out of compliance with the approved plan.