_INSPECTION - C1981008 (25) - 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. This was a Partial Inspection of the New Horizon Mine conducted by Marcia Talvitie of the Colorado DRMS on the afternoon of 30-Sep-2008. Ross Gubka represented the operator, Western Fuels - Colorado (WFC), throughout the entire inspection. The weather was clear, hot and dry. Roads Mr. Gubka stated that Montrose County and WFC have come to an agreement regarding the desired location of the center line of 5th Road. Pasture fence will be installed on either side. Hydrologic Balance Pond 007 was still full, and discharging at the time of the inspection. Since the time of the August inspection, WFC has installed Ditch C25 along the southern end of the permit area, beginning at 2700 Road (Figure 1), and extending westward to the current limit of topsoil stripping (Figure 2). Flow from the west roadside ditch, which receives surface flow from west of 2700 Road, is also directed into C25. Water continues to collect at the southern end of the active pit floor and the bench of bedrock exposed by the removal of topsoil and subsoil. Subsurface flow from the irrigated pasture immediately to the west (Figure 3) appears to be the source of the water. [Regarding the Phase II bond release areas included in SL-1 1, Ross and I discussed the CDPHE's guidance regarding termination of a stormwater / discharge permit; this is covered beginning on page 26 of WFC's CDPS permit.] Backfill & Grading Spoil from the active pit area was being loaded into dump trucks and hauled to the east side of the pit, where it was being dumped. According to Mr. Gubka, the full depth of fill is usually achieved in approximately 3 lifts (Figure 4). Topsoil Separate subsoil and topsoil lifts were in evidence on the Lloyd property, which is in the process of being reclaimed (Figure 5). General Mine Plan Compliance Operations at the mine were occurring in general compliance with the mine plan contained in the permit application package. The drill rig was stationed at the far northern end of the cut (Figure 6), and unconsolidated material had been cleared from the southern end of the next cut, in preparation for the drill rig's relocation. Mr. Gubka stated that because of the proximity to structures outside the permit boundary, loading of the holes for blasting would be handled in a different manner than previously. Revegetation Vegetation on the Benson parcel located west of 2700 Road had been mowed and Oaled (Figure, 7). The vegetation included a large percentage of kochia, per Mr. Gubka, so`WFC opted to bale it, rather than letting the plants go to seed. New Horizon Mine C-1981-008 30-Sep-2008