2008-10-01_INSPECTION - M1980146

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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1980-146 INSPECTION DATE 9/5/08 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112c permits. The operator was contacted about the scheduled inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the inspection. The site was active at the time of the inspection: with excavation, processing, stockpiling and hauling occurring. The required permit ID sign was posted at the entrance. Various permit boundary markers were observed also. The markers are especially important to maintain in place, since this is a phased operation that may be further expanded. There were large stockpiles of concrete pieces and waste asphalt, located south of the office and scalehouse area, that were imported from offsite. These materials are considered inert, and will be processed into constituents of saleable products. There was an estimated combined volume of 2,000 cubic yards of those materials. The diesel fuel storage tank has adequate secondary containment. The operator should monitor the condition of the geotextile liner to ensure it remains intact. Prompt replacement is necessary if it deteriorates. All onsite stormwater drains to proper control structures: runoff from the east end of the permit reports to a sediment pond below the entrance, and the pit area all drains to the sediment pond along the SW side of the pit. There is a new opening of the pit at its east end, where it adjoins new 111 permit M-2008-048, creating a potential for loss of stormwater containment if proper earthwork is not performed. This 112c permit operator must ensure all stormwater drainage is controlled and remains onsite. The pit has been extended to the north and NW as far as possible. Overall there are portions of the pit walls that are currently sloped, decreasing the required reclamation grading. The slopes in the north corner of the pit are too steep, and since the pit will not expand further in that direction, the slope is being backfilled with waste and fine materials presently, and will be finished by cut and fill, to reduce it to proper reclamation gradient. The topsoil will be respread when the slopes are ready. Topsoil is stockpiled along the top of the pit slopes. It is sparcely vegetated by yellow sweetclover, rabbitbrush, perennial grasses and annual weeds. Erosion of the topsoil does not appear to be an issue at this time, especially given that some of it may be replaced later this season. All topsoil that is to remain in stockpile until 2009 or later should be reseeded, however, in anticipation of winter moisture. (The operator should use the final reclamation seed mix, or certain species from it, for this temporary seeding. If other species are to be used, for seeding within BLM-managed lands, the operator should obtain approval from the local BLM office and approval from DRMS.) There were a few scattered musk thistle plants observed growing at the base of the topsoil pile located along the north end of the permit (along the side of the pile facing the pit). The operator was cautioned that the plant must be controlled to not spread elsewhere onsite, or offsite, or to infest the topsoil that is to be respread. He was aware of the plants and stated that the existing weed control plan will be followed. There was a patch of Russian knapweed on the earthen berm at the south permit boundary along road that leads to the county's pit to the south of this pit. The knapweed must not be allowed to spread to other areas, especially if this material is to be respread elsewhere in the permit. The operator was not aware of this patch, and will make sure it is monitored and treated. The outslope and base of the topsoil berm along the NE side of the permit, which is not visible from the pit but is visible from the pipeline road outside the permit, contains several patches of Canada thistle. It is not clear if this noxious weed is present due to permit activities, or from adjacent pipeline road traffic or from other BLM land uses (since other patched of the thistle were noted elsewhere on nearby, non-contiguous BLM land). However, the operator must control the weed where it occurs in the permit. The areas and noxious weeds described in the preceding three paragraphs constitute a topic of importance: the infestations must not expand and new areas must not be allowed to become infested or this will become a problem. The file contains a