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• (Page 21 • MINE ID a OR PROSPECTING ID rr M-1977-020 INSPECTION DATE 3-30-2001 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS OBSERVATIONS This inspection was conducted as part of the Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) monitoring program and to evaluate the current site conditions in preparation for updating the reclamation cost estimate. The knapweed problem noted in previous reports was not noted during this inspection. However, a majority of the site in the west parcel and Amendment No. 1 parcel has been recently disturbed and may have destroyed any evidence of weed establishment. The operator is encouraged to monitor the site closely and perform weed control as necessary when weeds establishment is noted. An asphalt plant has been set up for operation on the west side of the west pond. The permit does not contain provisions for an asphalt plant. Please, by the correction date noted on the next to last page of this report, either remove the asphalt plant and submit photographic documentation of compliance with this corrective action, or submit a technical revision addressing installation, operation, and reclamation specifics for this facility, including required permits from other agencies and an adequate spill containment plan. It appears that the operator has stockpiled topsoil/overburden along the north side of the west pond, in an area that was to be reclaimed and revegetated by this time, because of limited space available for stockpiles in the Amendment No. 1 parcel. The lack of stockpile space is the result of the operator's failure to comply with the approved mining and reclamation plans that commit to contemporaneous reclamation, a maximum of 10 acres stripped of topsoil and disturbed and a maximum of 7.8 acres of excavation area at any time. Please, by the correction date noted on the next to last page of this report, either perform adequate reclamation tasks to bring the site into compliance with the approved plan and submit photographic documentation of compliance with this corrective action, or submit a revision application addressing incorporation of revised mining and reclamation plans and reclamation costs for the mining operations currently taking place. The highwalls in the Amendment No. 1 pit are not to exceed 1100 feet in length. This includes the advancing highwall and the trailing highwalls at the pit perimeter on either end of the active highwall. All other highwalls are to be graded to final contours as the pit advances to the north. It appears that this was occurring at one point in time, but the operator has begun excavating a second level in the pit which has resulted in near vertical highwalls around most of the pit perimeter just below the upper level regraded pit slopes. Additionally, the mine plan committed to mining in one full depth lift. Please, by the correction date noted on the next to last page of this report, either perform adequate regrading to bring the site into compliance with the approved plan and submit photographic documentation of compliance with this corrective action, or submit a revision application addressing incorporation of revised mining and reclamation plans and reclamation costs for the mining operations currently taking place. In an area on the west side of the topsoil/overburden stockpile mentioned above, a loader had evidently been removing some material from the stockpile. In this process, some of the material was spilled over the riverbank to the river. The operator is cautioned to remove this material in a manner that does not result in discharge of this material to the river or down the riverbank. Several large diesel fuel tanks were noted throughout the site that were not placed within adequate spill containment structures. The tanks in the Amendment No. 1 parcel range in size from 500 gallon to 10,000 gallon and all are in close proximity to the sedimentation pond from which the water is being pumped to the west pond which discharges to the Gunnison River. A 13,250 gallon tank is located near the west pond and is part of the asphalt batch plant facility noted above. The opportunity for contamination of the Amendment No. 1 sediment pond, the west pond and the Gunnison River is very high at this site. However, no sheen was noted on the pond surfaces. Please, by the correction date noted on the next to last page of this report, either remove all of these tanks from the permit area and submit photographic documentation of compliance with this corrective action, or submit a revision application addressing incorporation of specifications for construction and reclamation of adequate spill containment structures for these tanks. The six nesting boxes that were to be installed in 1998, on the north side of the west pond, have not yet been constructed. Please construct these nesting boxes by the correction date shown on the next to last page of this report and submit photographic documentation of compliance with this corrective action.