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• MINE ID rY OR PROSPECTING ID p M-1978-091 INSPECTION DATE 10/30/00 (Page 31 ~ • INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO The operator stated that some vegetation is growing on the waste dump. Vegetation will enhance the soil holding nature of these surfaces, and the proper vegetation is preferred. Revegetation of any areas which are not to be redisturbed will reduce the overall reclamation liability for the site. The operator may consider placing benign material as growth medium on these terraces and the terraces seeded. The colluvium borrow area at the north end is still in use. It is cut into the steep hill face north of the portal, and is adjacent to the low end of the access road. As more material is removed from this area, the too of the highwall advances uo the hill. Early photos of the site show no borrow material removed (1993) and later with some material removed (19951. The 1997 DMO maps prepared by the current operator clearly depict the permit boundary to be up on the steep hillside, but not more than 20 horizontal feet from the inside edge of the road. The highwall is very close to that now. The highwall is vertical and exhibits undercutting. According to the moo, there is not much more material which may be taken without causing offsite damage which could be a possible violation The operator must stop excavating there and figure out a wav to stabilize the slope. If slope stabilization requires grading material down from above (outside the permit boundary!, or borrow from another offsite area, a permit amendment may be required. Ignoring the effect of erosion and gravity will, however, eventually cause areas outside the permit to be damaged. It is very important that this be avoided. There are more structures and equipment on the site now. In addition to the wooden building, there is also a steel building (made from a shipping contained, pipe and part racks, three diesel compressors, and stacks of timbers. There is an underground mucker, and about 60 ore sacks on the pad. IThe backhoe is parked down at Vickers Ranch, along with 4 ore sacks, one of which is breached.) The operator must ensure that the ore sacks presently on the pad, according to the approved plan for this site, are not there longer than 180 days. All items and equipment are portable. In 1998, a compressor that leaked oil on the ground near the gulch was observed operating on the site. At the 1999 inspection, it was observed that the operator had placed a plastic tarp under the leaky compressor, to protect the soil, groundwater and surface water. This secondary containment is simple good operating practice, important for all operators, and especially important for a DMO with inherently bad water. One of the diesel compressors which was operating during this current inspection was observed to be leaking oil directly onto the around, with no secondary containment If the operator's equipment is continually leaking then an impermeable liner must be placed under it monitored and maintained. The lack of such liner and he oil on the ground are considered to be a problem and must be corrected. The leaked oil must be properly disposed of (which may include use in an oil burner or kept in a drum in a maintained onsite location, until removed!. Please see the last page for the correction date. If questions, please contact this office. The bond amount will be recalculated, with new figures sent to the operator for review, if an increase is indicated. There were no further items noted or discussed at the time of the inspection. For all questions or responses to this report, please contact this inspector at the following address or phone: 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango CO 81301; tel 970/247-5193 or fax 970!247-5104. I & E Contact Address cc: Tom Gillis, DMG ^ CE NAME Kve Abraham ^ BL OPERATOR LKA International, Inc. ^ FS STREET 3724 47th St. Ct. NW ^ HW CITY/STATE/ZIP Gia Harbor. WA 98335 ^ HMWMD ICHI ^ SE ^ WOCD ICH) ^ OTHER cc: Lance Barker, Au Mining, P.O. Box 821, Lake City, CO 81235 cc: Julie Coleman-Pike, BLM 216 N Colorado Ave., Gunnison, CO 81230