2008-10-14_INSPECTION - M1991054

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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1991-054 INSPECTION DATE 9/9/08 OBSERVATIONS INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Hard Rock/Metals 110(1) permits. This office was unable to contact the operator prior to the inspection. The site was inactive, and no one was present representing the operator during the inspection. (The operator's address is in Kodiak. AK and the operator's phone number is in Saguache CO possibly indicating a local contact. The phone number, however, has been disconnected and a current phone number needs to be sent to this agency.) There were several new permit ID signs posted at the site: one at the upper gate 0.6 mile south of the mine, one about 0.1 mile south of the mine, one painted on the cut wall in the upper part of the permit, and another on the north side of the upper portion of the permit. It is acknowledged that signs are difficult to keep here, so it is hoped that the operator can maintain the present signs for an extended period. There is extensive evidence of recent (2008) activity at the site, besides the new signs. The upper highwall cut has been cleaned and slightly extended, the upper working pad has been raised slightly with new rock, and new muck has been added to the pile at the north end of the upper area. A small dozer is parked on the upper pad (Allis Chalmers model HD 6A). There are dozer and backhoe tracks on all areas of the site. There is a small pile of pyritic, argillic muck (about 2 cu yds, near the dozer) that was removed from the base of the cut wall. This material will weather and leach into the pad surface or beyond, and should not remain at the site. There is no sign of the upper shaft, even with the new earthwork on the upper pad, and it is assumed that it is backfilled or sealed in a stable manner. The operator is reminded that the upper shaft is within the permit area and its safe closure is a long-term responsibility under this permit. If it re-opens on its own or by the operator, it must be closed during reclamation. The waste rock being removed from the upper cut wall is being piled on the north end of the upper pad area, against the older piles of waste rock. This area is within the permit boundary, but is limited in size. The operator should be aware that the area is approved for clean waste rock, and that the rock must be graded to a stable configuration during reclamation or backfilled against the cut wall, but that all the disposed or emplaced waste rock must be contained within the permit boundary. During past inspections numerous green steel posts have been observed around the site, and they were presumed to be permit boundary markers. A few of them were observed during this inspection, but many of them were missing or knocked down. The permit area must be delineated, by steel posts or another method, especially if operations are restarting. The present lack of enough markers to delineate the permit area is noted as a problem on page one The corrective action is that the operator must install markers sufficient to delineate the boundary of (all portions of) the permit area The correction date is shown on the last page. The boundaries of the upper and lower portions of the permit area must be marked. The correction date will be set to allow the operator to access the site as late as next summer if it is closed already this year. The sloped road connecting the upper pad and the lower pad has been cleared of the fallen rocks that have been observed covering it previously. The roadway has not been widened nor its grade changed, and removed rocks do not appear to be littering the slope under the road. If the road is to be changed or more extensive earthwork is needed, the increased area of disturbance will have to be included in the permitted acreage. At present there is no problem noted. Many more rocks are still on the slope between the upper pad and sloped road, many of which will presumably slough down to the road or lower bench. When these additional fallen rocks eventually have to be removed from the road, the operator must ensure that they are placed or disposed of within the permit area. (Note: These rocks originate from the upper pad, and the operator must begin containing them there and eliminate the practice of allowing them to go down the slope.) The lower waste dump also exhibits new activity: there is new waste rock and the lower portal has been reopened. The new waste rock has been placed out at the margins of the dump, and some of the loose boulders have rolled a short distance from the toe of the lower dump. The dump and boulders appear to still be in the permit area (visually estimated in comparison with the map) but it is hard to tell exactly since there are no permit boundary markers around the lower dump either. Those markers must be installed in their correct locations (as explained above). The portal was open but did not appear stable or safe, due to loose rock and rotten timbers. The operator must safeguard the opening adequately to reduce the hazard when there is no mine personnel present. The cut wall above the adit may slough if the operator does not install adequate timbering out onto the pad and backfill to cover it. Since the portal is near the permit boundary, any sloughing may eventually extend outside the boundary.