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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 <br />inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a complete inspection of the Raton Creek Mine for the month of August, 1996. The <br />site has been reclaimed and mining operations have permantly ceased. <br />Records were inspected and the results are documented on page 5 of this report. Although <br />most records were available, it is obvious that no one has updated the records at the site since <br />the last complete inspection. Quarterly pond and waste pile inspection reports were not on site <br />but are at the Division. Additionally, the 1995 AHR could not be located. Please send a <br />company representative to the site with the missing documents and and update the records <br />before the next complete inspection. <br />Due to recent thunderstorms, the site requires some extensive maintenance work before winter <br />arrives to prevent further erosion and possible slope failures. The access road east of the shop <br />building requires water bars and road ditches installed as the runoff is washing the road away. <br />A ditch needs to be designed and installed starting from east of the shop building to below the <br />storage building as water now is forming braided channels throughout this area. Additionally, a <br />designed system of collection channels need to be installed to catch runoff and prevent the <br />down cutting on the reclaimed Mine 2 highwall section north east of the refuse pile. <br />Rills and gullies are developing throughout the site due to the thunderstorms and lack of <br />sufficient vegetation to prevent erosion. In two or three good years the site may become stable <br />but until then, unless a system of "natural" drainages are installed, continual maintenance at the <br />site will become the norm. <br />The vegetation at the site is dominated by annual and perinial weeds, and two legumes, sweet <br />clover and milkvetch. The grasses to date have not faired well but this is only the first growing <br />season and it is possible that they may come up better next year. <br />All currently designed ditches and culverts were clear and capable of functioning as designed. <br />The pond had about four feet of water in it but was not discharging. The pond appears to be <br />stable. <br />The site will require constant monitoring and repair to prevent serious degredation and costly <br />site rehabilitation. <br />