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'~ • (Page 2) • MSNE ID ,f' OR PROSPECTING ID $ INSPECTION DATE 5 19 94 M-85-029 INSPECII'OR'S INITIALS ACS This site was inspected as part of the Division's routine monitoring program. Monitoring inspections focus on environmental compliance, permit compliance, oper tional status, and bond amount adeauacv. The Bite was inactive at the time of this inspection, and apparently th re ie no intention to operate the placer this summer. There has been no substantial activi y at the site since site conditions were documented in aerial photographs taken by the Div aion on October 9, 1992. There are various pieces of mining and processing equipment ecatte ed around the site, none of which are in a readily usable condition. There is also a ood deal of trash scattered around the site, including numerous 55 gallon drums. The permit area ie marked with steel fence poste, however, no entrance ~igne are posted at either Access A or Access B. The Phase 1 clarification pond (Pond A) is till in place, but holds only a small amount of water. There was no flow in the Columbia itch, which is the permitted source to fill the ponds, at the time of this inspection. The operator was required, by the terms and conditions of Board approval (Condition ~`3) of~a permit amendment on 6/27/90, to cease operation of this pond and commence reclamation of he embankment, or, complete installation of an appropriately designed interior drainage system with prior approval of the design by the Division. One of these options was to be ex rcised by 6/27/93. Neither task has been completed by the operator. Aa a result, the operator must reclaim Pond A this summer, or submit a revision regarding installation of an interior drainage syat em. The approved reclamation p an for the pond is to grade the dam back into the pond, and level the pond area to obtai maximum 4 percent slopes to the southwest. Available topsoil is to be placed over the g aded area, and the area revegetated. If the operator does not intend to re-start mining op rations this year, then once the pond is reclaimed, and the site is cleaned up, the operati n should be placed in a temporary cessation status. There is an area in the eastern portion of Phase 2 (as shown on the minin sequence map from the 1990 amendment) and to the east of the Phase 2 boundary (but within t e permit boundary) that has been used for gravel extraction and crushing. The access B road has been paved with asphalt, and leads up to the gravel crushing area. The approved min plan specifically states that "gravels may also be developed, but a permit amendment will a requested before any commercial gravel operations are undertaken". No such amendmen request has been received or acted on by the Division. It is stated in several places in he Division's file that a 1983 aerial photo of the site is available, however no such photo 's contained in the Division's file at the present time. The operator should provide a copy f this photo if it can serve to demonstrate that the gravel operations occurred prior to f ling of the permit application in 1984, or, if gravel operations have occurred during 984 or later, the operator should file an amendment to the permit so that gravel operations can be included in the mine plan and bond for reclamation of land disturbed by gravel extrac ion and processing can be put in place for this operation. The operator has not submitted an annual report or paid the annual f e that was due on 2/22/94. The fee and report must be submitted to the Division immediate y. A condition of Board approval (Condition #5) of the permit amendment on 6/27/90 was that the operator clearly document the acreage disturbed and reclaimed during the previous ear in each annual report. The operator was also required to provide an accurate estimat of acreage to be disturbed in the forthcoming year, and to annually adjust the amount of Financial Warranty accordingly. A detailed summary, including appropriate maps and photos of land disturbed to date, areas reclaimed to date, projections for future operations, and a~ assessment of the adequacy of the existing bond, must be included in the overdue annual report.