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1 <br />r <br />~SPECTION REPORT <br />Page 2 <br />the berms which in turn often breach when a storm event occurs. Three <br />broken berms were noted. Water from those areas was dropped into a <br />lower furrow and eventually carried into a sediment pond prior to <br />discharge if in fact it did occur. There was no sign of a discharge <br />and in fact, all of the sediment ponds on the mine were dry. The <br />berms were repaired by the end of the inspection. <br />Other items that warrant comment in this report. One of the <br />sediment ponds, pond 1F3, was rebuilt during the last quarter of <br />1990. It was not certified as being built per the design. The pond <br />was surveyed during the interim between the first and last day of <br />this inspection. I assume that the reconstruction is now certified <br />as such. <br />The operator is in the process of backfilling and grading the last <br />cut of the mining operation. They have decided to reclaim the mine <br />because they are not able to procure other mining rights in the area. <br />The grading was not complete as of the end of the inspection but Mr. <br />Keegan said that they planned to finish the area within a couple of <br />weeks. As they began to backfill this area, the operator found that <br />they would he about 100,000 yards short of material due to an <br />oversight on their behalf in the calculation of spoil swell. In <br />order to backfill the highwall the decision was made and presented to <br />the Division that they would bring the needed material from the <br />adjoining reclaimed Barren Ridge tract that is also now being <br />reclaimed. That cut has created a flat on top of the ridge that was <br />previously not there before the area was mined and reclaimed. I <br />questioned the change in the land form and was told by Mr. Ranney <br />that it was his judgement that this was close to original contour. I <br />would also assume that the final configuration has been approved by <br />the Division as such. 6 <br />i did not agree or disagree with the comment b t would make the <br />comment per my supervisior that the Division should make the <br />Albuquerque Field Office aware of the operator's request for the bond <br />release on the grading. A review of this matter will be made at that <br />time. <br />