Laserfiche WebLink
III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a partial monthly inspection of the Loma Loadout and Munger mine site. There was no operator contact <br />present during inspection. Weather was clear and mild. There had been a rainfall event in the Munger <br />watershed on the night of October 18, approximately %:" of precipitation was recorded in the rain gage at the <br />Munger portal area. There also appeared to have been recent rainfall at the Loma loadout, likely from the same <br />storm. <br />Offsite Suooort Facilities (Loma Loadout <br />Conditions were generally similar to those described in the September inspection report, with the exception that <br />fall rains have resulted in new growth of the seeded western wheatgrass, and perennial shrubs including <br />greasewood, forage kochia, and volunteer seepweed (Suaeda), also appear more robust than in early <br />September. As noted in the September report, annual (non-noxious) weedy species are the visually dominant <br />species. Perennial establishment seems to have been suppressed in the areas with dense growth of annual <br />mustard, with apparently better establishment in areas dominated by the summer annuals. A couple years will <br />need to pass to assess the success of the most recent seeding effort. <br />Roads <br />The most recent rainfall event apparently was not as intense in the Munger Canyon watershed as the event that <br />occurred prior to the previous inspection. Road surfaces, ditches, and culverts had been maintained subsequent <br />to the September inspection, and were generally in good condition. However, maintenance is warranted in <br />several locations. <br />At the first (upper) and third 18" CMP road culverts below the mine bench, further maintenance is still <br />required. The fabric outlet sleeves associated with each culvert installation were previously torn off and <br />need to be replaced. At the fourth CMP road culvert, the inlet was partially obstructed by a large grass <br />clump that needs to be removed. Installation of a series of water bars between the third and fourth CMP <br />road culvert inlets is recommended, to direct road drainage to the inside road ditch. <br />Recent flows had washed out several of the water bars that had been recently installed along the two-track road <br />that provides to access to the small topsoil stockpile adjacent to the lower segment of the Munger Canyon haul <br />road. These water bars need to be restored and enlarged, as appropriate. <br />Road drainage ditches and culverts recently installed in association with the recent waste disposal area <br />development and road realignment appeared to have functioned well. However, some maintenance is <br />warranted. <br />Some rock and debris has lodged immediately in front of the inlet to the 36" CMP road culvert located <br />adjacent to the waste disposal area sediment pond, and needs to be cleaned out. <br />The outside road ditch segment (north side of road) between the straw bale pile and the refuse area <br />topsoil stockpile needs to be graded to remove sediment build-up. <br />Hydrolooic Balance <br />In the refuse area vicinity, the sediment pond appears to have been fully excavated and bermed. Anew 6" PVC <br />primary spillway tube had been installed; inlet elevation approximately 15" above level of the shallow water <br />currently pooled in the pond. A technical revision to eliminate the existing open channel spillway and install a <br />new CMP spillway was very recently approved by the Division, but the approval decision is not yet final. Upon <br />final approval, the approved spillway modifications will need to be implemented. <br />There was evidence of additional flow in diversion and collection ditches in the portal area. Diversions and <br />sediment control measures appear to have functioned effectively. There was standing water in the SAE-1 sump <br />3 <br />