INSPEC44657

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 1/5/2000
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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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.
This partial inspection of the New Horizon Mine was conducted by DMG staff from the DMG
Durango Office, 701 Camino Del Rio, Room 125, Durango, CO 81301, phone [phone].
Ross Gubka was conducting a field survey of the pit area and was not available to participate in
the inspection. This inspection focused on the reclaimed areas northwest of the active pit area.
Snow cover was approximately 4" depth.
Pond 002 The pond was dry. No discharge was observed from the primary spillway, brush
guard and anti-vortex fin were intact on the CMP inlet riser. Vegetative cover for the pond
embankment was well established. The embankment appeared stable, evidence of slumping,
seeping or excessive erosion was not observed. Russian knapweed was present at the pond
inlets, on the crest of the pond embankment, and along the sediment containment ditch for the
pond (002 North Ditch).
SAE 003 Sediment containment sump was dry, well vegetated and stable. Vegetative cover
for the south facing reclaimed slopes was established and appeared sufficient to control erosion.
Operator has controlled erosion/sedimentation in the area by installing straw bales.
Pond 004 The pond was dry. Primary spillway appeared clear of sediment and debris, no
discharge noted, brush guard and anti-vortex fin were intact on the CMP inlet riser. Pond
inslopes and embankment were well vegetated and stable. Russian knapweed was present on
the outslope, crest and inslope of the pond embankment. The knapweed was well established
along both sides of the adjacent county road (off permit) and appears to be infesting reclaimed
areas. Reclaimed areas within the watershed for Pond 004 were well vegetated and stable, no
evidence of slumping or excessive erosion.
Pond 005 The pond was dry. Primary spillway was clear, no discharge noted, brush guard and
anti-vortex fin were intact on the CMP inlet riser. Pond inslopes and embankment were well
vegetated and stable. A minor occurrance of knapweed was present on a portion of the pond
embankment near the county road. Reclaimed areas within the watershed for Pond 005 were
well vegetated and stable, no evidence of slumping or excessive erosion. Groundwater
monitoring well N25 appeared intact, the PVC pipe was capped. Culver C-21 was clear of
sediment and debris, fill over top of the Culver exceeded the 12" minimum requirement.
Pond 006 Pond 006 was holding water, water level appeared approximately 8' below the inlet
elevation for the primary spillway. Primary spillway was clear of debris, no discharge noted,
brush guard and anti-vortex fin were intact on CMP inlet riser. A minor occurrance of Russian
knapweed was present at the outlet of the primary spillway. Protective vegetative cover for the
open channel secondary spillway appeared well established, evidence of erosion within the
secondary spillway was not observed. Pond inslopes and embankment were well vegetated and
stable.