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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1994-097 <br />INSPECTION DATE 11-13-2003 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS <br />This inspection was conducted as part of a review by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology of permitted sites <br />that have known wash plant activities. DMG staff are currently reviewing the impact of wash plant operations and <br />mining activities in areas where upper Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks and Tertiary terrestrial deposits derived from <br />erosion of Cretaceous rock sources, (example: Mancos shale and/or Mancos shale derived soils) are disturbed by those <br />activities. The focus of the review is to identify factors that may contribute to increased selenium concentrations being <br />discharged from the site via groundwater and surface water flow. The operator was contacted and apprised of the visit <br />and the reasons surrounding the inspection. <br />The inspector was accompanied by Division Senior Environmental Protection Specialist Harry Posey, Senior <br />Environmental Protection Specialist Carl Mount and Environmental Protection Specialist Russ Means. The Spring Creek <br />Pit was selected for this inspection solely on the basis of staff knowledge of an existing, approved, wash plant <br />operation within the permitted area. <br />Post process water is collected in a series of sedimentation ponds. Water for the washing operations is recycled back <br />to the plant from the last settling pond in the series. No wash plant effluent reportedly leaves the site. Sediment is <br />periodically cleaned out and used as backfill material on site. No wash plant was located on site at the time of this <br />inspection, but the settling pond series was observed. These ponds were mostly dry at this time. It is believed that <br />these ponds were not constructed with any form of liner. <br />Upon final reclamation, this pit will drain to the north and will not hold any vvater. With this in mind, the operator is <br />encouraged to, when possible, place all wash plant sediment and any upper Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks and <br />Tertiary terrestrial deposits derived from erosion of Cretaceous rock sources, away from areas where drainage will <br />concentrate (swale bottoms) or where standing water may collect. This material should also be buried well beneath the <br />surface to minimize weathering and erosion. <br />One 55 gallon drum, suspected to contain hydraulic fluid, was located in the pit without spill containment. The <br />operator was cautioned to relocate the drum to an approved spill containment structure. <br />Access to the pit for this impromptu inspection is greatly appreciated. Thank you. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Steve Shuey at the Division of Minerals and Geology, Grand Junction <br />Field Office, 101 South 3rtl Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone number 970-243-6368. <br />I & E Contact Address cc: Carl Mount -DMG Denver Office <br /> ^ CE <br />NAME Brent Kerr ^ BL <br />OPERATOR Oldcastle SW Group. Inc. dba United Companies ^ FS <br />STREET P, O. Box 3609 ^ Hyl/ <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP Grand Junction. Colorado 81502 ^ HMWMD (CH) <br /> ^ SE <br /> ^ WOCD ICH) <br /> ^ OTHER <br />