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' ~ • (Page 2) • MINE ID $ OR PROSPECTING ID ~` M-77-493 INSPECTION DATE 8/11/95 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ACS This inspection was conducted to familiarize the Division with reclamation projects that will be undertaken at Climax during the fall of 1995. The Climax Mine is permitted as a "swing" producer, with the mine and mill maintained in a state of readiness to be brought on line quickly depending on the fluctuating market for molybdenum. The open pit mine and the mill were in operation during the summer of 1995, but were shutting down at the time of this inspection. The shut-down of the mine and mill has provided an opportunity to complete some large reclamation projects, due to the availability of manpower and equipment. The operator has provided the Division with a copy of the SCOPE OF WORK for the CLIMAX MINE 1995 RECLAMATION WORK prepared by Stoller Mining Services. All of the sites proposed for reclamation in the SCOPE OF WORK were inspected. The Storks Yard area was inspected. Most of the buildings in the Storks Yard were demolished in 1994 and previously. Any potentially hazardous or putrescible materials, including wood, were removed from the demolition debris. Remaining demolition debris were buried in a awale at the low end of the Storks Yard as approved by the Division and with the concurrence of the Solid Waste Section of the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division. Leachate from the building debris disposal site is collected and routed to the Storks Waste Water Pump Station where it is incorporated into the Climax industrial water system. Storks yard reclamation is to consist of grading to 3:1 slopes in moat yard perimeter areas, and grading to route drainage from storm water and snow melt to the Storks Waste Water Pump Station. Agricultural limestone will be applied to the graded areas and plant growth media spread. Soils will be amended with fertilizer, and the area will be seeded and mulched. A portion of the mulch to be utilized will be derived for chipped wood salvaged from Storks Yard building demolition. The Storks Yard reclamation proposal is consistent with the approved reclamation plan. Routing of storm water to the Storks Waste Water Pump Station should result in water quality improvement in the Upper Arkansas. The Division suggested, and the operator concurred, that the reclamation project should avoid the area designated for the 5-Shaft Seep Monitoring Plan. Earthwork, revegetation, and other reclamation related disturbance in the seep monitoring area should be deferred until both parties are assured that seepage from the partial flooding of 5-shaft and related underground mine workings is not occurring. The John Reed Mine was inspected. This is a historic manganese mine on Climax property, that is not required to be reclaimed under the terms of the Climax Reclamation Permit, and is not under the jurisdiction of the Office of Mined Land Reclamation, within the Division of Minerals and Geology (i.e. a •'pre-law" site). Climax is undertaking a voluntary reclamation project for this site, which may serve to mitigate any future liability under storm water regulations of the Clean Water Act, which will eliminate any safety hazards related to underground mine openings, should result in water quality improvement in the upper Arkansas, and will return the historically disturbed area to a beneficial use. She operator proposes to move John Reed mine waste, some of which is highly pyritic, to the F-Dump within the permitted area. This disposal plan is acceptable to the Division; the John Reed mine waste is consistent with material in the existing F-Dump, and the quantity of John Reed waste rock is inconsequential in comparison to the quantity of waste rock in the permitted dump. Climax is coordinating John Reed Mine reclamation with the Office of Active and Inactive Mines, Inactive Mine Program, within the Division of Minerals and Geology. The Storks Road and conveyor trace will be reclaimed this year. The conveyor was removed previously. Reclamation will consist of rubblization and removal of the asphalt paving material, grading of the road bed, and revegetation,, including tree plantings. The proposed reclamation is consistent with the approved ste`.eclamation plan, and the planting of trees at this location is a highly desirable enhancement to the approved plan and required reclamation. The upper portion of the East Tailing Delivery Line was inspected. The upper Eaet Tailing Delivery Line is located on the east site of Highway 91; as the line approaches the tailing ponds, it crosses to the other side of the highway. The outalope from the tailing delivery line down toward the highway is proposed for reclamation this year. Primarily, material will