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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the <br />inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a complete inspection of the New Horizon Mine for the month of April, 1999. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS: Records were inspected and found to be complete and <br />satisfactory. See page 6 of this report for more details. <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE: Mine 1 : Ponds 1 and 6 had water in them but only 1 was discharging <br />as normal, all other ponds were dry. All ditches and culverts are functioning as designed. Mine <br />2: Pond 7 had water in it and was discharging at a rate of approximately <2GPM. All ditches <br />and culverts were clear and capable of functioning as designed. <br />BACKFILL & GRADING: B & G was in progress as is normal. No problems were noted. <br />EXPLOSIVES: Records were complete, accurate, and up to date. All certificates are current. <br />The annual blasting notice was sent out for publication on 1 April 99. Blast 414 was observed <br />today and it was noted that all normal safety briefings were given and all protocols were strictlt <br />adhered to. The blast went as designed and no problems were noted. <br />Damages to the structures situated beyond the perimeter boundary from blast 412 were <br />observed and are as follows: <br />1. Wood and fiberglass lean-to structure. (photo 11 <br />a. Damage to 4x4 supports, 2x6 roof joists, and 1 sheet of fiberglass panel. <br />b. 1 electronic recording instrument. <br />2. 20'X40' steel building (photos 2-6 & 8). <br />a. North wall had 4 sets of small dents. <br />3. 3 strand of wire were broken from one section of a barbed wire fence (photo 71. <br />A complete review of the blasting records for shot 412, lattch 11, memos from Chief Engineer <br />Ross Gubka lattch 21 and Blasting Engineer John King lattch 31, Blast designs, and a phone <br />conversation from the Nucla Sanitation representative (Paul Woods, 693 Lincoln St., Nucla, CO) <br />were accomplished. <br />A complete record of the events of shot 412 is contained in the Chief Engineers memo lattch 21. <br />Basically, the shot was well designed and would have gone according to plans if an <br />approximately 5-6 feet thick portion of the face from the SE corner had not spalled off. <br />Mine and blasting personnel discussed three separate options and concluded that since the shot <br />was already primed and wetting the ANFO loaded hole could produce toxic fumes, the safest <br />,.,,:rse of ac'lon would be to clear the area off all equlpmant and personnel and proceed with the <br />blast. The nearest unmanned stn~cture (20x••=C foot shedl was about 480 feet away. <br />The shot was detonated and fly-'rock was observed to clear the pit and head off in a SE <br />direction.. Tne resulting damages to offsite property due to the fly-rock are noted above. <br />