ENFORCE30787 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

were produced. However, without closer examination of the rocks thenrelves and the slope it could not be determined whether the rocks were in fact recent or were due • to older rack falls from surrounding cliffs. The next stage of the investigatim involved a detailed examine.tian of the drainage from the Phase 1 mining limit boundary to the bottom of Williams Canyon. This was accomplished by climbing da.~n the drainage and photographing the various rocks, examining existing vegetation and vegetation regrorth around the rocks, comparing light colored with dark colored rocks, and noting other points which could provide an approximate date as to when the rocks arrived at their location. Near the tap of the drainage a number of moderate to large rocks were noted just below the mining limit but at least 200 feet inside the permit boundary. These rocks were already known to exist and when Phase 1 nears completim it was planned to remove these rocks and any trees which had died as a result of damage. One very large, old rock (indicated by the dark gray color and the grass growing in cracks) on the side of the hill was noted to have a drill hole in the side of it. However, the dimensions of the hole was too small to have been produced by Castle Concrete. Therefore, it appeared this large rock had fallen to this location during previous mining, probably during the 1930's when excavations occurred above this area. It became clear, as a result of this find, that at least three classes of rocks would • be found. The first class would be boulders which had naturally fallen fr~~n cliffs as a result of weathering. The second class of rocks would be those which had originated from the old mining operation. The third class of rocks were those which had more recently fallen into the drainage as a result of mining in Phase 1. These three classes would need to be distinguished in order to classify the rocks in the drainage and determine the extent of the recent spillage, which by this point in the investigation was realized to be likely, to at least sortie extent. Further down the drainage, five large rocks which had come from the Phase 1 area were noted. As judged by the color, these rocks were of recent origin and, as sha.,n by small disturbances in the soils above each rock location, it could be determined that they had came from the Phase 1 area. However, as sha,in by the lack of anything more than minor damage to the soils and hillside vegetati<xi, it became apparent these rocks had been rolling rather slowly. One rock was ro:.ling so slowly it became lodged partially underneath a rack of comparable size which had been there long enough to develop grass in cracks and even a small shrub growing out the top of the rock. All but two of these rocks were noted as being totally within the permit • CORRECTIVE ACTILTI PLAN SNYDER RDCK SPILLS PPf,~ 2