INSPEC41660

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 4/15/2005
• 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.
The operator has only recently been able to initiate annual rill and gully assessment, and snow cover still
obscured many higher elevation north facing slopes and Swale areas, preventing detailed evaluation of
rills and gullies based on the aerial images. However, there were areas of possible excessive rill or gully
erosion on snow-free areas of recent reclamation that will need to be ground checked, and where
remedial measures may be necessary. In addition to the locations addressed in the March inspection
report, locations that should be assessed include the following:
"D" Pit slopes below lower Ridgeline Road segment in vicinity of Stock Tank T-20 (evident rill erosion);
A hillslope gully of considerable length extending from a short distance northwest of the aspen test plot
to the southwest, down to the 006 Channel, upstream of Stock Tank T-5;
Areas of rill erosion on lower south facing slopes in the vicinity of the 006-S1/006 drainage junction
below the pond;
Possible valley bottom gullying up-gradient from the riprap segment of the 006-SE1 channel.
Slope Stability
Two slopes previously subject to sliding and repair were covered by the images. The ridgeline slide area
in the Pond 15 watershed that failed and was repaired in 2001 was snow-free and appeared stable, with
no indication of recent movement. Seeded grasses are relatively well established on the repair area and
had recently initiated spring growth.
The "A" Pit final highwall slide area, which was regraded prior to topsoiling last fall was still partially
obscured by snow cover, and detailed observations were not possible.
No obvious areas of slope failure were evident based on review of the aerial images, but detailed
observations were prevented by snow cover on most north facing slope areas.
Topsoil and Revegetation
Topsoiling and seeding operations were largely completed in the lower "A" and "B" pit reclamation areas
in fall 2004. A few small areas where topsoiling and/or seeding was not completed last fall will need to
be completed as soon as conditions allow this spring. Refer to discussion in March inspection report.
Some emergence of seeded annual grasses or annual (orbs was evident on south facing slope areas that
were seeded last fall. Snow had only recently melted from other locations and north slopes were still
snow covered.
There is a small highwall slide along a remnant section of the south leg Wadge Pit adjacent to Topsoil
Stockpile ZZ. This location should be ground checked to ensure that the stockpile is not jeopardized. It
would appear that the stockpile will need to be removed to facilitate final highwall elimination and
regrading of the adjacent pit area.
The small area exemption sediment trap for Topsoil Stockpile CCC, adjacent to Haul Road K, appeared to
have functioned properly. Runoff water was puddted in the sediment trap, with substantial freeboard
apparent.