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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID x OR PROSPECTING ID N M-1994-1 73 <br />INSPECTION DATE 7/1 7/2000 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS <br />This was a partial inspection of the Pathfinder Pit, conducted in response to a written complaint that the operator was <br />hauling from the pit despite the concerns expressed earlier by Public Service and DMG regarding the stability of the fill, <br />access road and the potential adverse affects that heavy traffic may have on these structures. This inspection is also <br />conducted as apre-operational inspection for some revisions requested in Technical Revision No. 2. <br />Haul trucks were being loaded with topsoil and leaving the site by way of the access road over the fill where the 1997 <br />penstock repairs took place. DMG is pursuing an enforcement action for this activity as was stated in the DMG inspection <br />report for the May 25, 2000 site inspection. While standing on the subject fill during the crossing of that fill by a 10 yard <br />haul truck, vibration could be felt. No stress cracks were noted in the road surface. The operator had closed off the <br />section of the access road on the east side of the penstock by importing and dumping some coarse rock material on that <br />section and by fencing it off with safety fence. The operator is to submit a notice of importation of fill, for all fill material <br />that has been imported to the site for permanent placement, as required by Rule 3.1.5(91. Please submit these notices as <br />specified in the corrective actions on the last page of this report. <br />Wet areas, indicating seepage, were noted along the access road on the above mentioned fill. The wet areas were located <br />on the downgradient outslope, approximately 6 feet down from the crest. The operator indicated that they had rainstorms <br />the last two nights that had dropped approximately an inch of rain each. There are several currently flowing springs located <br />along the debris flow that occurred when the penstock ruptured. A few of these springs occur at the base of the till <br />outslope. The particular spring mentioned in the 5-25, 2000 inspection report is currently flowing an estimated 7-10 gpm. <br />The debris material along the length of the flow is currently some~nihat wet, allowing the inspector to sink t to 2 inches <br />into the material. Pieces of safety fence and green water pipe were noted at various places along the flow. The origin of <br />these materials is unknown. <br />The safety berm along the crest of the cvtslope on the west side of the pit shows minimal signs of germinating vegetation. <br />The hydroseeding effort should be monitored to determine if it will be successful . If unsuccessful, additional measures will <br />need to be taken to protect the berm from erosion and weed infestation. A majority of the current vegetation on the berrns <br />is weedy, but no noxious weed species were noted. Silt fences have been installed as temporary sediment control for file <br />berm outslope. The operator indicated that silt fencing would be installed at the toe of the fill outslope to temporarily <br />control off-site sedimentation. This measure should be taken as soon as possible with the silt fencing installed on the <br />permit area, near the permit boundary. <br />The operator had moved a permit boundary marker to a spot near the east side of the access road and south of the wetland. <br />This spot is not the location of the perrnit boundary, but is the location of the affected area boundary. The operator is <br />encouraged to mark both boundaries of the site to prevent problems in the future. The Rules require only tha± the affected <br />area boundary be marked. The affectec' area at the Pathfinder Pit is not currently adequately marked and these markers <br />need tc be installed by the correction date indicated on the last page of this report. It is recommended that the permit <br />boundary markers and the affected area boundary markers be easily differentiated and identifiable. <br />Several mule deer beds were noted around the perimeter of the pit and one doe was observed just outside the south side <br />of the pit. <br />Verbal complaints received indicated that the operator was hauling material from the site on the old railroad grade that <br />leaves the pit from the south side. This area was inspected and no evidence of truck traffic was observed. There was <br />evidence that tracked equipment has traveled the road in the last few weeks. The operator indicated that he has mobilized <br />a dozer and an excavator along this road. The old railroad grade was pre-existing and has not been upgraded for this <br />purpose. DMG has no jurisdiction over this matter ar this time. The operator is cautioned to ensure he has the approval <br />of the landowner before using this old railroad grade. <br />The site of the south access road, proposed in the Technical Revision No. 2 application, was inspected to verify that there <br />is apre-existing road there and what it's condition is. A large area in that vicinity had to be inspected because no road <br />is readily identifiable. There is 4 inch diarneter aspens and heavy vegetation across the area. If apre-existing road existed <br />here, it has revegetated so well that DMG does not recognize a road and will require that any establishment of an access <br />road at this location be permitted as a new road. <br />Pnat~ 1~1 X38 - EX(-itStT <br />