INSPEC35454 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

`r • (Page 2) • MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-78-091 INSPECTION DATE 06/11/98 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of 110 Hard Rock/Metal DMO permits. The operator was contacted about the inspection and was present at the site during the part of the inspection at the 6 level portal. All portions of the permit area and water monitoring locations were inspected, some of which are not near the 6 level portal. This inspector was unaccompanied during those parts of the inspection. The 6 level portal and pad area, where the operator was working at the time of the inspection, was observed. The operator has maintained a series of sumps for collecting drainage from underground and surface runoff. The sumps are part of the Environmental Protection Facilities (EPFS) which are required due to this site being a DMO. The underground sump is pumped to the sump at the portal, and uncontained underground seepage is directed into the sump at the portal. This sump is groundwater monitoring location GW-I, which has usually shown a pH of less than 3. Analysis shows that the sump at the portal collects acidic, metal-laden water on a consistent basis. Observation also ehowa that this water is very cloudy from the clays through which it passes on its way to the portal. The sump maintenance includes periodically mucking out the solids, and placing them on the top of the other mucked material from the mine (on north end of the pad). It is intended that the water is to percolate into the colluvium near the toe of the cut slope, at the sump location, which is less than 100 feet from the channel of Deadman Gulch. There is to be no surface discharge to the gulch, even when there is no other surface runoff. However, in operating equipment on the pad surface, presumably the rubber tired mucker which is used to clean out the sump, acidic muck was spilled and several ruts were created. The sump water was observed to be trickling across the pad and entering the flow in the gulch. The path of the trickling water crossed the previous ore storage area, which still contained a thin covering of the high-grade ore on the surface. The water was following the puddles, fire tracks and eroded ruts to reach the gulch. There was no berm at the edge of the sump, or berm/water bar on the pad to prevent such spillage from reaching the gulch or providing back up containment. This condition contributes to adverse effects to the hydrologic balance. Additionally, the operators wheel mounted compressor was observed to be leaking oil onto the pad surface. The compressor is parked at the south end of the pad immediately adjacent to the flow in the gulch. The oil on the soil surface under the compressor did not seem to be spreading to the gulch water flowing near it. However, the potential is present for hydrologic communication and contamination, and at the very least the soil and possibly groundwater are affected by the hydrocarbons. This is also considered to be contributing adversely to the hydrologic balance. The outslope surface of the waste dump was to be contour terraced, according to the operator's commitments made in the environmental protection plan. This is to ensure the longterm stability of the surface by preventing uncontrolled runoff, erosion and debris movement across the length of the slope, to offeite areas downhill. This has not been performed to-date, though it was to have been done by the end of last season. The placement of underground muck and solids of the sump muck are periodically placed on the top of the waste pad, which lies directly above this elope face. There is a potential for movement of newly placed material down this slope, and without terraces this movement may be uncontained. The conditions described in the paragraphs above are noted as problems on page one, under the topics of "general mine plan compliance", "acid or toxic materials" and "hydrologic balance". The operator has not made all reasonable provision for containing and isolating potential