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a notification at each of the structures. Western Fuels also published the notification in three <br />newspapers distributed in the mine locality. Hundreds of pre-blast surveys were conducted in <br />response to the notifications and the surveys are maintained at the mine site. The approved <br />Colorado program states, "If a structure is renovated or added to, subsequent to a pre-blast <br />survey, then upon request to (DMG) a survey of such additions and renovations shall be <br />performed...". Western Fuels exceeds the requirements of the Colorado program by directly <br />notifying owners of newly constructed or renovated structures of their eligibility for apre-blast <br />survey. Western Fuels has also exceeded the program requirements by conducting additional <br />surveys on structures where it has been a number of years since the initial survey and the owner of <br />the structure has requested it be surveyed again. <br />Public Notice of Blasting Schedule <br />Western Fuels published a blasting schedule the week before this inspection occurred; March 13, <br />1997. The blasting schedule was sent to owners and residents of structures within one-half mile <br />of the blasting area around March 31, 1997. The blasting notice addresses the location of <br />blasting, time of blasting, access control, audible warning signals, and a description of unavoidable <br />hazardous situations. The blasting notice contains all the information required by the Colorado <br />program. ~ <br />Surface Blasting Requirements , <br />Blasting has been conducted within the time periods as set forth in the blasting notification. I was <br />not present during a blast to monitor the audible warning signals, but residents confirm that the <br />signals are sounded prior to blasting. Western Fuels stated that residents closest to the blasting <br />area are notified prior to each blast and this was verified. Some residents have requested that <br />Western Fuels not notify them prior to blasting. <br />The blast records reviewed do not indicate any violations of the maximum standards for airblast <br />limitations or peak particle velocities. Western Fuels stated that four seismographs are placed in <br />the field prior to each blast. Blasting records for the time period that OSM's seismograph was in <br />the field were reviewed along with Western Fuels's seismograph records. Not all seismographs <br />produce a record for each blast because not all seismograph are triggered by the blasting. <br />No damage to property outside the permit area was observed in those areas inspected. Flyrock <br />was not observed outside the permit area. I observed the furthest piece of flyrock to be twenty- <br />nine paces from the back of one of the blasting areas. <br />Records of Blasting <br />In reviewing the blasting records, I noted one potential problem. The blasting records did not <br />specifically indicate the total weight of explosives per hole. I contacted the DMG inspector after <br />the mine site review and he stated that because the geology is uniform and the topography is <br />relatively flat, the weight of explosives per eight-millisecond period (combined with the number of <br />holes per eight-millisecond period if applicable) actually reflects this figure. This was the response <br />