INSPEC19160

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: OSM Inspection Report
• From: OSM
• To: DMG
• Inspection Date: 8/14/2002
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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New Horizon Mine # 2; pQ. 2
Daily blasting logs were current through 8/13 and included a seismograph record. The
annual blasting schedule was published Apri14, 2002, and contains all the necessary
information. An April 3, 2002, letter from Western Fuels to all residents within one-half
mile of the permit area (and / or blasting area, emphasis added) provides residents the
opportunity for apre-blast survey and also distributed the new 2002-2003 blasting
schedule. The letter notes that Western Fuels has conducted over 150 pre-blast surveys in
the area, indicating that the operation has conducted the required one-half mile of the
permit boundary notifications in the past. Total permit area has increased at the mine
through the permit amendment process. The permittee also provided us a listing of
residents who were contacted during 2001 and 2002 who were with one-half mile of the
blasting area described in the blasting schedule.
The permittee had established a centroid of the blasting area and used this center to
define their one-half mile blasting schedule notification boundary. This methodology was
not used to determine the one-half mile of the total permit area boundary for purposes of
pre-blast survey notification according to DMG. Subsequent to the inspection
discussions, DMG has determined that this centroid methodology was not approved in
the permit, nor did it meet the intent of the notification provisions. Several residences that
did not receive blasting schedule notification due to the centroid delineation method, did
receive notification the day following this inspection. DMG has issued a Notice of
Violation (NOV) to the permittee for not notifying the several residences noted above,
via distribution of the annual blasting schedule republication. Also subsequent to the
inspection, DMG determined that the permittee had not distributed the last blasting
schedule publication to Montrose County in accordance with Colorado Rule 4.08.3(1)(b).
This violation was also cited by DMG in the above NOV. It appears this centroid
methodology that resulted in one of the violations noted above was a misunderstanding
on the permittee's part more than anything else.
Blasting warning signs were clearly posted at the required locations we observed during
our inspection. No offsite impacts were noted during the inspection, and both grading and
final reclamation are very current at this site. This concluded the inspection.
Please address any questions concerning this report to Henry Austin at
[e-mail] or to [phone] x1466.