_INSPECTION - C1981047 ‎(23)‎

• Permit No: C1981047
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 8/27/2008
• Email Name: JJD
• 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 Phase II and Phase III bond release inspection for the Blue Ribbon Mine. Representing the operator,
Minrec, Inc.,was Stan Muhr,owner, and Jim Stover,consultant. Ryan Taylor represented the USDA-Forest
Service and Desty Dyer represented the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Jim Kiger represented Oxbow
Mining,LLC, a surface owner of a portion of the mine site. Joe Dudash represented the Colorado Division of
Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Representatives of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining and the holders of the
Allen grazing rights had been notified of the inspection but did not attend.
Summary of Results
As a result of this Phase II and Phase III inspection at the Blue Ribbon Mine, several conclusions were reached
and several issues remain to be resolved concerning field work:
i. Final bond release can not be granted until pond 4 and pond 5 are backfilled and graded and an
appropriate vegetative cover established.
2. Minrec needs to submit a minor revision that includes the soil loss comparison evaluation that had been
originally presented in the bond release(SL-2)submittal. Upon Division approval of the minor revision,
reclamation of pond 4 and pond 5 can begin.
3. Oxbow Mining previously assumed responsibility for the Hubbard Creek crossing culvert and short
section of entrance road for its Elk Creek Mine.No further permitting or field work needs to be done.
4. By letters dated June 29, 2005 and August 29, 2008, Oxbow Mining requested that the dirt road leading
to pond 5 should be retained, but that ponds 4 and 5 should be reclaimed. The Division approves
Oxbow's request.
5. As requested by Oxbow in their August 29, 2008 letter to the Division,pond 5 should be backfilled and
graded by pushing in only the southern portion of the pond embankment while removing discharge pipes
and filling in the spillway.
6. As requested by Oxbow in their August 29, 2008 letter to the Division, pond 4 should be backfilled and
graded by pushing in only the northeast portion of the pond embankment while removing discharge pipes
and filling in the spillway. The knapweed adjacent to pond 4 needs to be sprayed before pond 4 can be
backfilled and graded.
7. The ditch on the reclaimed upper mine bench terrace and the ditch that leads to pond 5 must remain.
8. The short upland diversion ditch in the northeast corner of the reclaimed main mine site and the upland
diversion ditch at the reclaimed temporary coal stockpile area do not need to be reclaimed.
9. The 18 inch diameter black plastic culvert on the north end of the disturbed area needs to be removed.
10. The operator needs to continue spraying noxious weeds on the mine site.
11. Piezometers and survey markers need to be reclaimed.
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