INSPEC30308

• Permit No: C1981029
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 12/9/1994
• Doc Name: OSM MINE-SITE EVALUATION INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 11/30/1994
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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FIELD REVIEW
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The review of field conditions at the mine was limited because
of snow cover. The Northwest Sediment trap was visited,
however, because it was the subject of a previous Division
Notice of Violation (NOV) which was later vacated. This
structure, which is a sedimentation pond, exist with a single
close channel spillway which is in violation of the Colorado
Rules, since the structure does not provide total containment
for the 25-year, 24-hour storm event. The Division was
informed at the time of the inspection that a Ten-Day Notice
would be issued to address the Northwest Sediment Trap. The
Division then elected to write another NOV which basically
mirrored the previous with the exception of one Rule cite.
OSM will closely track the resolution of this violation.
The remainder of the mine which was visited appeared to have
changed little since the May 94 inspection.
During the May inspection it was noted that the southeast area
of the reclamation did not appear to blend in with the
surrounding terrain. A quick review of the mine plan
indicates that the post mining configuration of the land was
may not have been returned to its approximate original contour
(AOC) but was changed to meet the desires of the land owner.
The land area was zoned agriculture and forestry prior to
mining and no change to this land use will result after
mining. In other words, the land use is grazing and wildlife.
The Colorado Rules do not provide for a waiver from AOC at the
request of the land owner when the post mining land use is to
support grazing and wildlife. Since snow cover did not allow
an on-the-ground review of the area, it will need to be
checked at a later date. In the meantime the Division is
given notice via this inspection that the post mining surface
configuration of the reclaimed area at the Meadows mine does
not appear to have been approved in accordance with the
Colorado Rules.
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS: The Division issued Notice of Violation
~C-94-036 for failure to design, construct and maintain the
Northwest Sediment Trap to provide for either a combination of
principal and emergency spillways, or a single closed channel
spillway. The initial abatement date is December 9, 1994.
MSEIR: Those items in block 24 marked with a "2" have been
discussed above. Those items left blank could not be checked
at the time of this inspection.
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