REP00128 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• (Page 3) • MINE ID aY OR PROSPECTING ID X M-1999-058 INSPEC710N DATE 7/3/01 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO It was discussed with the complainant that the inspection of the mine access road itself would be with the mine operator. Since the road is not within the permit area, if it were determined that the marble fines on the roadway were due to uncontrolled drainage and sediment from the mine, or from accidental or deliberate placement on the road by the operator, this office would have some enforcement jurisdiction. If it were due to negligence in road maintenance, it might be more a civil matter between landowners and lessee, with limited jurisdiction on the Division's part. 2. The second part of the inspection was of the access road and areas within the permit boundary, with the operator's representative. No underground areas were inspected. The point where the gully on the unpermitted dump slope originates is directly below the portal, below a 2-foot wide gap in the jersey barriers. There was a 1-foot high berm of gravel and marble fines in this gap, which does not appear to allow drainage to pass through. The operator stated that discharge from quarry dewatering is not routed down the dump slope there, no stormwater runoff from the pad is routed down there, and no dumping occurs from that point by any mine personnel. The operator indicated the visibly marked permit boundary in this vicinity, and was aware of the importance of not adversely affecting any lands outside the permit boundary. The operator described the dewatering discharge location, which corresponds with the approved location in the permit application. stormwater runoff from the upslope areas within the permit is controlled by a diversion berm which crosses the road below the portal, directing runoff into a small sump or into the portal. The berm is a gentle hump about a foot high, which all mine traffic crosses. This new sump is an earthen depression, with a capacity of about 10 cubic yards. It additionally contains straw bates along its north and east edges. It is easily maintained by driving down the ramp into the sump. All sediment from the sump is taken by loader or Bobcat to one of the two currently-active approved dumping locations to the south. It is very important that the runoff control berm and sump be maintained. It is recommended that the gap in the jersey barriers be filled with a material other than marble fines (such as gravel or larger broken rock, or marble block) and placed so it will not move down the slope. The active dump locations are located in the permit area, with all slopes receiving waste materials also being in the permit area. These locations receive marble blocks, broken pieces, and fines, which come from the underground mining and processing, underground clean-out, and above-ground sediment control. The finer fraction in the waste material often contains water, which drains out after being dumped on the surface. The operator recently re-constructed the sediment control pond located down the permitted waste dump slope, in the same location where it formerly was under the previous permit. The pond measures about 20 feet x 20 feet, and presently has at least 3 feet of freeboard. It was impounding water and suspended sediment (marble fines( from the waste slope. There was no observed downhill wetting or seepage. The trail down to the pond from the dump location is inside the permit area, and should be kept clear for future pond maintenance. The onsite diesel storage tank was being filled by private tanker truck during the inspection. There was no sign of spillage on the soil outside the containment berm. The earthen containment berm is lined with a geomercibrane, which is probably about 4 or 5 years old now. It is well anchored on the berm, has been cleared of debris and water (which decrease its storage capacity) and exhibits no rips or holes. No signs of seepage or contamination were observed on the downhill berm. The diesel power plant is inside a closed trailer, and was also clean of spillage and contamination. The access road below the portal was inspected. Nearly the entire road length from the public parking area up to the quarry portal contains a continuous row of concrete jersey barriers. In a few locations, one or two barriers have fallen or been pushed a short distance down the slope. Drainage on the road surface is not consistently directed to the inside (western) edge of the road. The barriers should not be relied upon as the primary or final answer to stormwater drainage control on the road. Drainage patterns on the road exhibited numerous locations where drainage went through the line of barriers on the outer road shoulder and then down the hill. This typically did not include marble fines, just minor erosional patterns on the surface. At one location on the road in particular, extending for a length of 13 jersey barriers (estimated to be 130 feet) there was a low continuous berm of marble fines along the barriers and filling a gap where two barriers were now down the hill. Winter road snow plowing is responsible for some of the damaged or move jersey barriers. The operator stated that the fines were not transported by runoff from the mine, but were placed by mine personnel as part of the drainage control during road maintenance. The marble fines from this mine are known to be transported as sediment when suspended in