INSPEC40007

• Permit No: C1981015
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 3/24/2005
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE
Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made
during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection
and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action.
This was a combined DMG/OSM Special Focus (offsite Impacts) inspection, conducted by Dan
Mathews of the DMG Grand Junction Office, and Mitch Rollings of OSMIW RCC, Denver. The
inspection also constituted the Division's quarterly complete inspection, for the 1~` quarter 2005.
Weather during the inspection was cloudy and cool, with brief periods of light drizzle. Ground
conditions were muddy from light rains over the past several days.
offsite Impacts
No offsite impacts were evident. The sediment pond remains in place and appeared to be
functional. The pond bottom was muddy, with no standing water. Sediment level in the pond is
approximately 4.5 feet below the top of the spillway riser. Bentonite seal of a hole near the base
of the riser described in the December 2004 inspection report appears to have held up well, with
no additional holes or cracks evident that might allow for pond inflow to exit the pond rapidly
without sufficient detention time.
Vegetation cover along the reclaimed road, the relatively flat upper bench area, and the lower
facility reclamation areas is quite good, with a combination of four-wing saltbush, shadscale,
rabbitbrush, western wheatgrass, and Indian ricegrass present at varying densities in these
areas. Seeded perennials have also become established on the steep, south facing slopes of the
#1 Bench outslope, and the smaller, #2 Mine backfill slope, however cover and density of
perennials is significantly lower in these areas. Overall, vegetation establishment on reclaimed
areas appears to be sufficient to control excessive wind and water erosion.
There is gully erosion present within the disturbed area, but such erosion is limited to areas
impacted by concentrated flow from offsite areas; for the most part within planned, permanent
drainage channels. The extent of gully development does not appear to be out of character with
the surrounding environment. Please refer to December and April 2004 DMG inspection reports
for detailed descriptions.
As noted in the December 2004 inspection, the riprapped channel down the steep #1 Mine
outslope is still largely intact and functioning properly, although a few rocks have been dislodged
during large runoff events. The riprap channel has been in place for five years (installed in the
spring of 2000).
Other Inspection Topics
Site conditions are essentially unchanged from those described in the 12-28-04 inspection report.
The relatively wet fall and warm, relatively moist spring have resujlted in vigorous growth of
cheatgrass on portions of the disturbed area and in the general vicinity. Cool season grasses
and shrubs have recently initiated spring growth.
There were a couple sets of tire tracks from 4wd recreationists along the lower segment of the
reclaimed road. Damage so far is minimal, but repeated use will result in excess compaction,
ruts, and erosion.