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III. Comments - Compliance <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of <br />observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any <br />enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence <br />supporting the enforcement action. <br />On June 4, 1991 an inspection was conducted at American Shield's <br />Fruita Mine. Conducting the inspection was Randall Price of MLRD <br />and Henry Austin of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM). This <br />mine is not permitted under the current mining program, but at <br />one time operated under the interim program with permit number <br />79-60 ug/c. This mine is currently conducting reclamation only <br />since it was unsuccessful in obtaining a permit under the current <br />program. <br />At the time of the inspection the weather was clear and warm. The <br />Grand Junction area has received an above average amount of rain <br />this spring. The past few years have been drought years. There <br />was evidence of some surface water runoff in some of the reclaim <br />areas but there was not enough to reach the sediment pond. Most <br />topsoiled areas had been left in a roughened state and there <br />appeared to have been some pooling of water in small depressions. <br />No erosion has occurred in the topsoiled areas since reclamation <br />has .been conducted this spring. <br />The areas that were topsoiled this past Spring have not been <br />mulched or seeded as required in Rule 4.15.3(1). This rule <br />requires that all seeding of disturbed areas shall be conducted <br />during the first normal period for favorable planting. This <br />planting period for the Grand Junction area has just ended. For <br />this reason NOV C-91-005 was issued. <br />The inspectors toured the mine site. Ditches appeared to be in <br />good condition. One maintenance problem was noted however, an 8' <br />by 4' by 4' piece of sandstone had fallen from an outcrop and was <br />blocking the diversion ditch along the access road to the Cameo <br />bench. This ditch runs along the far west side of the disturbed <br />area. This will most likely require blasting to be removed. This <br />should be removed as soon as possible. <br />As reported in last months inspection report the spillway to the <br />existing sediment pond requires redesigning. Due to recent rule <br />changes in the Federal regulations the Division will require that <br />the principal and emergency spillways be separate. The existing <br />pond at the mine, with small design changes, a cap placed on the <br />current emergency spillway and a new emergency spillway cut into <br />the embankment, may meet the new design requirements. The <br />Division is requiring that revisions be submitted such that the <br />on-the-ground construction is completed no later than September <br />1, 1991. <br />The small area of the reclaimed pond contained 3 sets of hay <br />bails set across the drainage way. There has not been any runoff <br />from this area since they have been installed. A violation was <br />