ENFORCE23461 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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. General Comments This was a partial monthly inspection of the Seneca II-W Mine, covering accessible surface affected areas. I was accompanied on the inspection by Dennis Bugay, SCC Safety Manager. Weather was clear and cool. Ground conditions were muddy in most areas. Snow had melted off drift areas of north and east facing slopes only within the last week. Some areas remained inaccessible by vehicle and heavy mud in many locations made walking difficult. Description of Enforcement Actions NOV CV-2007-002 Nature of Violation, Portion of the Operation, and Required Abatement NOV CV-2007-002 was issued May 5, 2007, based on observations made during the inspection on April 25 The NOV was issued for Failure to design, construct, and/or maintain permanent reclamation slopes and features including segments of postmine drainage channel and segment of light use road and associated ditching, as necessary to: Minimize erosion to provide protection for topsoil and vegetation (4.05.5(1)(c)]; Minimize erosion and slippage (4.14.2(5)]; and Prevent damage to public or private property (4.03.3(1)(a)]. The NOV applied to a small landslide and associated erosion along the Ridgeline Light Use Road, adjacent to the reclaimed Wadge Neck Pit area. The text of the NOV in its entirety is included as Attachment 1, to this inspection report. Digital photos referenced in the NOV narrative are included as Attachment 2, to this inspection report. Photo DSC02767 (8-29-06) is an over-view of the reclaimed Neck Pit area looking north, taken from a hill south of the area. The Ridgeline light use road is the narrow two track visible in the lower right quadrant of the photo, above the aspen trees. The slide/erosional feature that is the subject of NOV CV-2007-002 occurred on the road outslope, very near the point where the road is obscured by vegetation on the slope in the foreground of the photo. Photo DSC0412 is from an aerial inspection flown October 13, 2006. The photo shows the reclaimed Neck Pit area, view to the southwest. There is an area of freshly seeded topsoil on the reclaimed slope near the center of the photo, to the west of the light use road. Diversion Channel PM-4C extends from northwest to southeast through the seeded topsoil parcel (some water is puddled along the upper end of the channel). The narrow strip of topsoil visible along the steep outslope below the road, is a slide feature that was repaired in 2006. There are two rock lined channels visible in the photo; the relatively straight channel closer to the center of the photo is Channel PM-4, which directs flow into Culvert PM-10 (beneath the light use road). The slide/erosional feature that is the subject of NOV CV-2007-002 initiated in the vicinity of the lower end of Channel PM-4C, a short distance to the north (toward center of photo) from Culvert PM-10. Photo DSC0220 is a February 22, 2007 aerial photo, showing the Neck Pit and adjacent areas, from the same general perspective as DSC0412, though the photo point was somewhat further east, and taken from a higher elevation. Two short, parallel strips of soil are visible in the 2006 seeded area; the upper strip is the berm formed by construction of the upper segment of Diversion Channel PM-4C, exposed where wind has blown off the snow cover. The remaining photos are from the site inspection of April 25, 2007. DSC02983 is view looking south along the light use road toward rocked channel PM-4. Flat topography in the foreground (near small puddles) is where 3