INSPEC27454 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

(Page 21 MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1981-185 INSPECTION DATE 9/4/02 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Hard Rock and Metals 110 permits. The operator was contacted about the inspection, and the persons named on page one were present during the inspection. The site is not classified as a DMO: there is no onsite processing, there is no acid mine drainage, and there are no designated chemicals. The site was identified at the locked entrance gate by the required ID sign posted there. A short distance beyond the gate is the lower block of permitted land containing the lower portal and pad area. A couple permit boundary signs, posted in their correct location out in the forest, were pointed out by the operator. There has been no activity at the site in several years. Much of the previously disturbed pad areas and access road are becoming naturally vegetated. The lower portal is secured 6y a locked grate in the timbered portal opening. Some sloughed material from the steep face- up has also restricted the opening slightly. There is a fairly clear path across the pad to the adit. The portal is near the drainage route of the ephemeral flow in the nearby gulch. Low earth and rock berms act to separate the pad and portal from the drainage flow, though the berms are too low to control very much flow. The adit is dry. All disturbance is well within the permit boundary. The road from the lower portal to the upper portal is steep throughout much of its length. The operator has installed water bars on the road to direct runoff off the road surface, but the water bars are becoming filled and non-functional. A few areas exhibit erosional features, even though the road surface is coarse and well drained. A fair amount of naturally occurring vegetation is growing on the road, which may improve its stability over time, though it would be removed upon commencing road maintenance or regular vehicular use. Though there is no problem noted in this report for erosion, the ogerator must monitor the road and areas downslooe for erosion and sediment transport, and act to control it in a timely manner. There is one localized natural feature of moderate instability adjacent to the road, which has impacted the road also. The toe of a slump feature lies along the side of the road, and portions of the toe have been bladed off in past years to provide passage across that segment of road. The slump originates up the hill a couple hundred feet, through no apparent adverse action on the part of the operator. Trees have been uprooted, whole clumps of brush have migrated downhill, and deep gullies have eroded on the unstable slope. The soils and underlying rock are different here, and it is not known what activity may be needed to control this, so that the access road will be more stable and easier to maintain. The several fairly dry years recently have acted to keep the slump stable. The operator expressed a wish to possibly realign the steepest section of the access road, which is uphill from the slump feature mentioned above. The affected length of roadway would be possibly only 50 yards or more, but would require a substantial bit of earthwork on this steep slope. If the affected "footprint" of the roadwav is to be changed in this or anv other section, it will have to be added to the affected acreage of the permit. If this 110 permit is alreadv at its 9.9-acre area limit, and the operator wishes to keep the total area below 10 acres. other unaffected areas will have to be released from the oermit first. To discuss these actions, please contact this office first. There is a short section of access road in the vicinity of the steep section mentioned above which exhibits a heafthv stand of thistle. The operator stated that it was known and has been treated in the past, but not this year. He offered to spray, and that will help, but the seeds are set and spray will not prevent spread by seed. It would be ideal to hand collect all the tops, but it would be time-consuming. However, the alternative would be for the patch to spread along the road and down the slope, making treatment more extensive, difficult and costly. This is not noted as a oroblem in this report, but the operator is cautioned against allowing this to occur a second vear. Future inspections will include monitoring this infestation. If it has Drown, it will become a oroblem, and its treatment will be added to the bond amount. The upper pad and portal area also show natural revegetation, including Douglas-fir and narrowleaf cottonwood. The pad contains numerous small mining-related items, such as timbers, steel, a drum of bolts, hose and cable. The portal is grated and locked. The face up exposes several thin layers of more resistant stone, which seem to help stabilize the slope against more extensive sloughing and erosion. There is oakbrush above the face up, which also may help stabilize the top of the cut, but maybe not in the long term. Photos will be used to periodically document the height of the top of the cut. The adit is dry, there is no discharge. The dump surface and outslope exhibit a small amount of mineralized material. This is fine for now, but reclamation will require removal of this material. Upon reactivation of the site, the upper dump is planned