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• (Page 21 • MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-94-117 INSPECTION DATE 9-5-97 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS GC OBSERVATIONS This was a monitoring inspection conducted in response to a written complaint Erom Mark Steen of Mi Vida Enterprises received by the Division on September 4, 1997. Mr Steen complained that the operator had closed the Hazel `A' mine adit with a concrete and cinder block bulkhead, blocking access to the area behind the bulkhead. Access behind the bulkhead is required for pump maintainence and reservoir monitoring. The spray evaporation system, tailings pond, and monitoring wells were also inspected. Jamie Miner and Dave Tipton were present for the operator. The weather was clear to partly cloudy. HAZEL-A Adit The Division had required during its inspection of a-2-96, that leakage through the main bulkhead in the Hazel-A adit must be kept to a minimum by caulking or chinking as necessary. Problem PB-2 in the a-21-97 inspection report required the operator to repair a leak observed in the wooden bulkhead. On September 2, 1997, the Division received a complaint form Mi Vida Enterprises that the mine adit had been closed with a concrete and cinder block bulkhead. During this inspection, the operator's representative said they had first attempted to seal the leak in the bulkhead with a white colored sealant. This had failed to stop the leak so they decided to construct a cinder black and concrete wall adjacent to the wooden bulkhead. The Division observed, as of the time of this inspection, an approximately 3.5 foot high cinder block and concrete bulkhead under construction about six to eight inches outby from the existing wooden bulkhead. Both the cinderblock wall and the wooden bulkhead behind it are white, and when observed from the mine portal, this looks like a continuous concrete bulkhead from floor to roof. The top of the wooden bulkhead was measured ac 22 inches from the mine roof and the operator stated that the new concrete bulkhead would be the same height, leaving a space for access. The operator said that they proposed to finish the concrete bulkhead and then fill in the few inches of space between the wood and the concrete with cement. There is a me Gal pipe and release valve assembly protruding near the base of the wooden bulkhead. The valve is now between the new and old bulkhead structures and will be covered with cement if it is not extended through the cinderblock wall. The operator was informed that before continuing with this activity, the operator will need to submit and get aoproved, a plan to seal the leak as a revision to the permit (aae Problem PB-1). The operator will need to include provisions to salvage the existing discharge assembly or install a new one. The freeboard behind the wooden bulkhead was measured at 24." No inflow was observed through the shear zone in the adit roof between the bulkhead and the portal. The base of the wooden bulkhead was still leaking. The primary sump outby of the bulkhead was wet but was operating and the secondary sump was dry. The Hazel `A'log book maintained in the adit was inspected and found to have entries to the current date. The operator was required in the Division's inspection of a-2-96 to inspect the adit each day and keep a detailied log of pumping times and bulkhead freeboard conditions. During the a-21-97 inspection, the Division found that there were missing enties in the Hazel A log book. After the a-2i-97 inspection, the operator responded that the Hazel `A' has been checked daily and that a record was maintained in the mill building. This was checked for verification during this inspection. There is a second log book in the mill showing that personnel have been onsite each of the missing days. However, the entries are incomplete as required by the Division. The detailed entries must include verification that the power to the pumps is turned on, the bulkhead, coEEer dam, and pump back systems are operating as intended, and the portal hatch is locked. The dace and time must accompany each entry with each persons signature. Tailings pond There was approximately 20 inches of freeboard in the tailings pond. This was determined by observing the pond water level on the graduated marker [aped co the decant riser. An additional 6 inches was added to that Level to account for the freeboard above the top of the riser. This is a three inch increase in freeboard Erom the previous inspection of 8-21-97.