INSPEC39494

• Permit No: M1977493
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 11/7/1996
• Doc Name: Insp Rpt
• From: DMG
• To: Climax Molybdenum Company
• Inspection Date: 11/7/1996
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

-~
°. ~ . (Page 2) •
MINE ID ~` OR PROSPECTING ID { W-77-493
INSPECTION DATE 11/7/96 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ACS
OBSERVATIONS
The primary purpose of this inspection was to observe the progress of the conversion of the
Oxide Tailing Pond to afresh water storage reservoir called Eagle Park Reservoir. Removal
of tailing from the Oxide Pond has been completed, with approximately 1.1 million cubic yards
of tailing having been removed over the course of the project. In addition, approximately
36,000 cubic yards of natural Boil that was located under the tailing was removed from the
bottom of the reservoir. The natural soil that was removed w111 be used ae a plant growth
medium for reclamation projects at the Climax Mine. The interior of the reservoir was
inspected. Observations of the reservoir interior were limited by snow cover, but no
residual tailing was observed. Climax personnel-report that ft was a simple exercise to
distinguish tailing from natural soil just on the basis of color. The interior of the
reservoir was being surveyed at the time of this inspection. There are several locations
where the elopes in the reservoir interior are more steep than the elopes specified in Rule
3.1.5(7) of the Hard Rock/Metal Mining Rules and Regulations. These steeper than specified
slopes are in locations where there are bedrock outcrops. Climax will have to submit a
request for a waiver of the elope provisions of Rule 3.1.5(7).
it was observed that the Lower North Interceptor ditch is currently routed via a pipe through
the newly constructed 4-Dam primary spillway. All 3 of the interceptor canals around Eagle
Park Reservoir (Lower North, Upper North, and Chalk Mountain) are currently configured so
that they can either be routed into or around the reservoir.
A trench had been cut through 4-Dam near the south abutment for the purpose of installing the
new 4-Dam seep water return pipeline. The embankment soils removed from the trench had been
stockpiled adjacent to the trench and were covered with plastic.
Tailing that had been spilled on the haul road from the Oxide Pond to tailing disposal areas
on the Tenmile Creek side were being cleaned up at the time of this inspection. Also, the
safety berme constructed along this haul road were being removed. Suitable material from the
berm removal project is being salvaged as plant growth medium, and is either being spread on
the "E" Stockpile for reclamation, or is being stockpiled at the crest of 1-Dam.
The new Robinson Lake pump station was under construction at the time of this inspection.
A dike has been constructed to create a small pond area next to the new pump station, and
Climax will collect 1-Dam seep water at the underdrain outlets and route the seep water to
this small pond. Using the stainless steel pampa in the new pump station, this seep water
can then be pumped up to Climax Camp without pre-treatment. Climax has placed into abeyance
the plan to construct a process water cutoff dike in Robinson Lake, and will instead
concentrate on sludge removal from Robinson Lake. The disposition of the sludge that ie
cleaned out of the lake will be decided based on an analysis of the sludge, which ie believed
to contain a significant percentage of unreacted lime. If the Robinson Lake sludge ie to be
placed into existing tailing disposal areas (Robinson, Tenmile, and Mayflower Ponds) the
Division would not have to be consulted. If the sludge is going to be disposed of in any
other locations on the property, the Division would have to review the disposal plan.
I & E Contact Address
NAME Bryce Romic
OPERATOR Climax Molybdenum Comoanv
STREET Climax Mine
CITY/STATE/ZIP Climax, CO 80429
cc: Carl Mount, DMG
^ ~
^ BL
^ FS
^ HMWMD (CH)
^ SE
^ w4C'D (~)
^ OTHER