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<br />(Page 3) <br /> <br />MINE ID ~' OR PROSPECTING ID ~ M-H2-020 <br />INSPECTION DATE 5-5-93 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ACS <br />would be eloped from east to west and covered with topsoil if there is sufficient stockpiled <br />soil available, then seeded. If sufficient soil is not available, the graded materials will <br />serve as a plant growth medium. <br />Two water samples were taken from the south-west corner of the pond. The samples were taken <br />in a plastic bucket that had been triple rinsed with distilled water, then run through a <br />clean .45 micron filter. Parameters measured in the field were: <br />Temp. - 57 degrees F pH - 7.5 E.C. - 0 <br />The sample to be analyzed for total and W.A.D. cyanide was placed in a plastic bottle and pH <br />stabilized at 12.1 with NaOH. The sample to be analyzed for dissolved metals was pH <br />stabilized at 1.8 using Nitric Acid. The samples are being analyzed at CORE Labe in Denver, <br />and results should be available 5-26-93. <br />If the cyanide circuit is to be utilized at any time in the future, the operator must submit <br />a technical revision to the Division which details re-certification of the pond liner, leak <br />detection system, mill circuit, and spill prevention and mitigation plans. <br />7. This operation was originally permitted for the use of a mercury amalgamation. The <br />operator indicated that he dose not now, nor has he ever used mercury at the site. Based on <br />observations made during this inspection, the necessary environmental and health safeguards <br />are not in place to make an amalgamation operation feasible. If the operator decides to use <br />mercury in the future, a technical revision would have to be submitted to the Division <br />describing the process. <br />8. All tailing produced at the site are currently epigotted into the 105,000 eq. ft. lower <br />tailing impoundment. Only a small percentage of the impoundments capacity had been filled <br />at the time of this inspection. There was a small amount of water impounded at the <br />downstream end of the pond from snow melt and over-flow from the lined pond. The operator <br />stated that due to the high percentage of solids in the tailing slurry, and the arid climate <br />at the site, that the lower tailing dam rarely impounds water. The amount of water impounded <br />should be monitored by the operator and in future inspections, as this dam is not designed <br />as a water impounding structure. <br />The lower tailing dam out-elope is at 3:1 or lees, and has been re-vegetated with perennial <br />species. Reclamation of the lower impoundment would involve covering the tailing with a <br />minimum of one foot of coarse rock (from the waste dump) as a capillary break, and finishing <br />with a minimum 1 ft. stockpiled soil (the topsoil stockpile is located just to the west of <br />the lower impoundment). The topeoiled area would then be seeded with the approved mix and <br />mulched. The tailing dam would have to be breached to provide positive drainage. The dam <br />breach may have to be rip-rapped or, at a minimum, vegetated. The dam should not be breached <br />until vegetation ie well established within the impoundment. <br />9. As a result of observations made during this inspection and review of the permit <br />documents, it ie apparent that the $5000.00 bond held by the Division would not provide <br />adequate funds to reclaim the Bite in the event of permit revocation and bond forfeiture. <br />The $5000.00 bond amount was set at a time when there was a statutory cap on the amount of <br />bond that could be required for a Limited Impact Operation, that cap has since been lifted, <br />and the Division has been directed to set bonds at the estimated actual cost to reclaim the <br />site based on what it would cost the state using an independent contractor to complete <br />reclamation. A detailed reclamation coat estimate has been attached to this report which <br />yields a coat of $13,750.00. <br />C.R.S. 34-32-1174(c) (from the Mined Land Reclamation Act) states: <br />The Hoard may, from time to time for good cause shown, increase or decrease <br />the amount or duration of required financial warranties. A financial <br />warranter shall have sixty days after the date of notice of any such <br />adjustment to fulfill all new requirements. <br />If the operator wishes to consult with the Divia ion at aff regarding the attached bond <br />