INSPEC22326

• Permit No: C1981025
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 8/15/2002
• Doc Name: OSM Inspection Report
• From: OSM
• To: DMG
• Inspection Date: 8/6/2002
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

September 8, 2002
MINREC, Inc.
2768 Compass Dr., Ste. 101 _
Grand Junction, CO 81506
North Thompson Creek Mine
Phase III Bond Release Inspection
August 6, 2002
Participants:
Jim Stover, P.E., MINREC
Dan Hernandez, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG)
Byron Walker, DMG
Henry Austin, Office of Surface Mining (OSM)
I participated in a Phase III bond release inspection at the above mine on August 6 with
the participants noted. Weather conditions were partly cloudy with light rain showers in
the azea. Ground and vegetation conditions were extremely dry due to Colorado's
continued drought this year. The same inspection participants conducted a Phase II bond
release inspection of this mine on September 11, 2001, and the DMG and OSM
inspection reports for that inspection aze incorporated by reference and available at our
offices. Prior to the Phase III inspection I reviewed the OSM permitting correspondence
record for the mine including the 5 DMG minor pemut revisions that have been approved
since the September 11, 2001, Phase II inspection. OSM previously reviewed the
permittee's revegetation sampling data, and determined that success standazds approved
for the mine and required for Phase III bond release have been adequately demonstrated
by the sampling data provided.
Mr. Walker led the inspection and indicated the U.S. Forest Service, USDUBLM,
landowners and adjacent landowners, and local governments and planning agencies had
been notified and invited to participate in the inspection. Newspaper publication notice of
the bond release application request and distribution listing of the notice is contained in
the bond release application that was provided to OSM, and meets the requirements of
DMG's rules. Mr. Walker indicated no written public comments were received regarding
the Phase III application, and that the Crystal River Ranch and the City of Carbondale
planning department placed phone calls concerning the application.
We walked and inspected all the reclaimed areas including the following: The lower and
upper concrete flumes in Middle Thompson Creek remain in place, as the scheduled
demolition /removal of the structures this Summer has been postponed due to the high
fire danger. Mr. Stover indicated he hopes to reschedule the work yet this Summer/ Fall.
We also saw the reclaimed fresh air intake portal along Middle Creek that is stable. These
flumes and the 2 similaz concrete flumes in North Thompson Creek need to be
demolished /removed to.complete Phase III reclamation requirements at the mine.