_INSPECTION - C1981047 (23) - Laserfiche WebLink

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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. soil amendments,the existing disturbed soils were suitable as a plant growth medium.This soil material along with the topsoil that was salvaged was used over the disturbed areas to establish an adequate seedbed for vegetation. In 2004,0.7 acres of the Blue Ribbon Mine permit area were transferred to Oxbow Mining's Elk Creek Mine permit area for exploration drill hole site access. In 2005,an additional 2.8 acres of the Blue Ribbon permit area, including pond 3,were transferred to the Elk Creek Mine permit area for Oxbow Mining's construction of vent shaft facilities. There are currently two sediment ponds at the Blue Ribbon Mine.Pond no.5 holds runoff from the mine bench area and pond no. 4 receives runoff from the reclaimed coal stockpile area that lies to the west of Hubbard Creek. The Blue Ribbon Mine site contains a haul road,which is now reclaimed,and a light use road,which provides access to Pond No. 5 and the mine bench. The Division approved a permanent relocation of the ephemeral drainage just north of the disturbed area. The drainage channel was extended about 150 feet further to the west to accommodate the mine bench stabilization project of 1984.The drainage area is less than one square mile.Hubbard Creek was temporarily diverted around Pond No. I during the mining operation. With the removal of Pond No. 1, Hubbard Creek was restored to its original channel. Field Inspection The inspection began at the mine site entrance gate,where a 9 foot diameter culvert and a short section of light use road provide access across Hubbard Creek to the Blue Ribbon Mine. Oxbow Mining LLC had assumed responsibility for this culvert and road section in order to provide access to their Elk Creek Mine vent fan site. The Hubbard Creek culvert was clear of debris and the road across the creek was in good condition. The entrance gate was locked and the Blue Ribbon Mine id sign and records location sign were on the gate. The mine id sign contained the required information. The two signs will be removed upon approval of final reclamation. Once across Hubbard Creek, a light use road leads north to the reclaimed Blue Ribbon Mine benches and pond 5. In a letter to the Division dated June 29, 2005, Oxbow Mining LLC requested that the light use road be left in place as a future ranch road but that pond 5 be reclaimed.The light use road was in good condition and was passable. Pond 5 was dry. Pond inslopes and outslopes were well vegetated and appeared to be stable. The pond discharge structures were in place and were functional. The gate on the primary discharge pipe was closed. It was agreed that only the southern portion of the pond embankment needs to be pushed back into the pond for reclamation, with the pond's primary discharge pipe removed and the riprapped emergency spillway filled in. This would minimize surface disturbance and the associated noxious weeds and still provide a reconstructed channel for the drainage of runoff. However, reclamation of pond 5,as well as pond 4 on the west side of Hubbard Creek,can not be reclaimed until it is shown that runoff from the reclaimed mine site does not contribute suspended solids in excess of those from the pre-mining condition or from those from an adjacent unmined area. Minrec submitted this soil loss comparison demonstration in SL-2 but needs to submit it in a separate minor revision for Division approval. Once ponds 4 and 5 are backfilled and graded, however,final bond release can not be made until a vegetative cover is established that is adequate to control erosion and that is similar to the vegetative cover on the reclaimed area or surrounding undisturbed area. Page 4