INSPEC45733 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

r_ _, • (Page 2) • MINE ID rX OR PROSPECTING ID k M-1994-113 INSPECTION DATE 5!25/2000 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS r OBSERVATIONS This was a partial inspection, conducted io evaluate the stability of the site and access road after the spring thaw. The access road appears to have come through the winter without any significant bank erosion or slumping that is visible to the naked eye, except for a small slump on the cutbank above the road near where it joins the old railroad bed. Outslopes below the road, that are not vegetated, showed minor surface erosion from snowmelt. No mud slides were observed at the base of these slopes. No stress fractures were noted in the road surface. Mr. Scott Smith discussed plans to use a bulldozer to stabilize and reshape the outslope of the road below where the Public Service Ames Penstock was damaged and repaired. The Division instructed Mr. Smith to install a silt fence below the area to be affected by these stabilization measures prior to conducting any maintenance work on that outslope. Mr. Smith was also reminded that Pathfinder Development, Inc. needs to submit and secure Division of Minerals and Geology approval of a revision, incorporating the access road into the permit area. The application must be received by 6/16/2000, and must include an engineering demonstration that demonstrates the access road is adequately engineered for the mine related traffic that is to utilize the road. The Public Service Ames Penstock is an integral part of the access road, and has the potential, if damaged, to be a health and safety hazard for people downstream and cause significant environmental harm. Therefore, the engineering demonstration of stability for the access road must also demonstrate that the mine related traffic on this road will not adversely affect the penstock. Mr. Smith indicated that he had an opporcunity to get a contract to provide quite a bit of material to a local mine remediation project. The Division indicated that part of the reason for this inspection was because the Division had learned that the pit might become active, and was uncomfortable with the idea of heavy truck traffic on the access road prior to submittal and evaluation of the engineering study required to be submitted for the access road and the fill where the penstock repairs were conducted. The Division told Mr. Smith, at that time, that hauling material from the pit might be restricted until the engineering study was submitted and evaluated, and that he should submit the study as soon as possible. The access road is still considered to be a problem, but is not identified as a problem on page four of this report, because the problem and corrective action are still active from the Division's 11/23/1999 inspection report. The correction date from that report was extended to 6/16/2000. Pathfinder Development, Inc. needs to be aware that the revision to incorporate the access road into the permit must include proof of right-of-entry. Since the 5125/2000 inspection of the Pathfinder Pit, the Division has learned that Public Service Company has suspended the agreement that gives Pathfinder Development, Inc. right-of-entry to the penstock easement. Pathfinder Development, Inc. has indicated, and Public Service Company admits, that the penstock is not located in the easement, but that the easement is actually located to the east of the penstock and access road location. Public Service indicates they still have the right to restrict right-of-entry to the current access road !penstock location. Pathfinder Development, Inc indicates that right-of-entry to the access road / penstock location cannot be restricted by Public Service Company. This problem must be resolved for Pathfinder Development, Inc. to prove right-of-entry to the access road, and to obtain Division approval of a revision to incorporate the road into the Pathfinder Pit permit. The Division does not currently consider this situation to be a violation. However, if the Division finds any haul trucks using the access road between the time this report is received by Pathfinder Development, Inc. and when the Division approves a revision to incorporate the access road into the Pathfinder Pit permit, an enforcement action may be taken. Water was flowing from a point just below the base of the fill where the penstock was repaired. The flow rate was roughly estimated at 20-30 g. p. m. It is not believed that this flaw comes from a leak in the penstock, because the observation/access ports through the road, to the top of the penstock, did not show any evidence of leakage. No standing water was evident in the wetland area upgradient from the fill. The water source is most likely drainage from the saturated fill. Pathfinder should monitor this flow during the course of the next few weeks to verify that the flow rate tapers off, as it should unless heavy precipitation occurs regularly during this period. Identifying the source of this flow may be necessary for the engineering demonstration of stability for this fill.