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~. <br />II. 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 />Hydrologic Balance <br />Diversions and sediment control measures appear to have functioned effectively in the portal bench <br />area. There was a frozen pool in the SAE-1 sump area, and sediment had been deposited at the lower <br />end of the sump, to within 18" of the top of the rock check structure. The rock check had functioned <br />well and remains intact. Silt fencing appeared to be properly maintained and functional. <br />There are a couple areas of down-cutting along the upper steep segment of the diversion at the west end of the <br />mine bench (Ditch H), and the lower flat segment of the diversion has silted in to some extent. Riprap <br />installation is recommended along the eroded segments, and sediment accumulation should be cleaned <br />out of the lower flat segment (the ditch segment just upstream of the large half-culvert and other debris). <br />Refuse Area sediment pond water level was approximately 1 foot below the primary spillway elevation. <br />Backfillino and Gradino <br />There was no evidence of new erosion on the interim reclamation fill on the mine bench area, and and no <br />evidence of renewed cracking, caving, or sloughing. Areas of the fill which had been affected by caving on top <br />of the fill and surficial sloughage on the outslope have been properly graded, seeded, and mulched. <br />Processing Waste <br />Drainage structures associated with the waste disposal area have functioned well. The upper diversion above <br />the cover soil stockpile had recently been maintained. <br />The sediment pond cleanout material placed on top of the cover soil stockpile last year has recently thawed and <br />seems to have dried considerably, although some damp/muddy areas remain on the surface. This material <br />needs to be graded uniformly over the top of the pile, scarified and seeded with the stabilization <br />seedmix as soon as ground conditions allow. <br />When the cover soil pile grading and seeding is complete, the riprap segment of the diversion at the <br />west end will need to be restored across the temporary access road, down to the southeast corner of <br />the sediment pond. <br />There was minor puddling at the west end of the initial disposal cell. Waste material within the cell has been <br />spread and graded, and the bottom of the cell is covered by a thin layer of graded refuse. It is likely that <br />additional material from the McClave sediment drying area will be hauled to the waste disposal area later this <br />spring. Operator is reminded that the material will need to be spread and compacted in horizontal lifts <br />not to exceed two feet thick, and that adequate density of the lifts will need to be verified by compaction <br />testing. <br />Reveoetation <br />Various small portal area disturbances were seeded last fall and will be evaluated as the growing season <br />progresses. Various locations recently disturbed in association with pond berm construction and <br />spillway modification in the vicinity of the refuse disposal area still need to be seeded with the interim <br />seedmix. All such disturbed areas should be seeded in conjunction with seeding of the cover soil <br />stockpile. Ditches disturbed by sediment excavation or other maintenance activity should also be <br />seeded following completion of maintenance work. <br />Interim vegetation cover in the portal area and topsoil stockpiles near the refuse area and adjacent to the lower <br />road segment is well established and effective. <br />4 <br />