_INSPECTION - C1981053 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1981053
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 11/27/2007
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE
Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the
inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence
supporting the enforcement action.
This was a complete inspection and a final bond release inspection of the Blue Flame Mine. The
inspection was conducted by Tom Kaldenbach of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and
Safety. The mining and reclamation permit for the Blue Flame Mine was revoked on June 27, 1991.
The State holds no reclamation bond associated with the site. The site is on privately owned lands and
coal. Prior to May 2004, DRMS had last conducted reclamation on this site in May 1993. In early
2004, DRMS initiated the final bond release/termination of jurisdiction process (file SL-1). In May of
that year the IML Program of DRMS, in association with filling a 1-foot diameter, 5-foot deep hole in
the former portal area, had a contractor excavate a diversion ditch at the top of the portal area.
Excavation of the ditch resulted in DRMS suspending its termination of jurisdiction process for the
Blue Flame site.
DRMS re-initiated its process of terminating regulatory jurisdiction of the Blue Flame Mine on
September 11, 2007 following the procedures of 3.03.2 (file SL-1). Notices were sent to the parties
required by 3.03.2(1) and a notice was published in the Durango Herald, as required by 3.03.2(1)(b).
DRMS had earlier sampled vegetation on the Blue Flame site in 2002 and 2003, and reported the
results in an Internal Memorandum, dated November 24, 2003, which is in the SL-1 file. DRMS had
also completed a Hydrologic Impact Assessment for Blue Flame, dated January 24, 2004, which is in
the SL-1 file. DRMS verified during an inspection in November 2006 that vegetation had remained
adequate since the 2003 sampling.
Surface owners and the Office of Surface Mining were notified of the current inspection. David
Vackar, representing the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, attended the inspection. No one else attended the
inspection.
The inspection was conducted in accordance with Section 3.03.2(2). The site was covered with several
inches of snow which hindered ground observations, although the site has been inspected by DRMS on
a monthly basis for several years. Except for the snow cover,the site appeared as it has during
previous monthly inspections. The inspection covered the approximate 4-acre disturbed portion of the
53-acre site. Selected photographs taken during the inspection are provided at the end of this report.
Availability of Records
None required, as this is a revoked permit site.
Signs and Markers
None maintained, as this is a revoked permit site.
Roads
The access roads into the site have been regraded and revegetated. No problems were found in these
areas.