_INSPECTION - C1994082 (47) - Laserfiche WebLink

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S 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. General Comments This was an aerial inspection of the Seneca Yoast Mine. The site was flown on the morning of 10/28/08, and Harry Ranney of the Division took 16 oblique and near vertical digital image photos. Photos covered most portions of the reclaimed mine pit areas, but did not cover Pond 10 or segments of the access road corridor further north, nor did they cover YPM-12 and Pond 11, east of the North Pit area. The images were viewed by Dan Mathews of the Division on 11/07/08. Weather conditions were clear; site conditions appeared to be relatively dry; older revegetated areas were dominated by the yellowish brown color of dormant grasses. In general, the site looks very good considering the high percentage of recently reclaimed steep slope topography. A considerable amount of erosion repair work was completed over the field season, including grading and seeding of rilled areas, permanent channel regrading and TRM installation, construction of TRM lined minor tributary channels in some locations, grading and seeding of settling cracks along graded highwalls in some locations, and backfilling/topsoiling/seeding of a deep crater that formed in the backfill near the YPM-1-3 channel. The erosion and settling features resulted from the combination of steep, newly reclaimed slopes and the exceptionally heavy 2008 spring runoff. Over-all site stability should increase substantially in the next few years, as initial spoil settling passes and developing vegetation ground cover and root development takes hold. One area that remains unstable and unsightly is the"Pond 12 Slide", which is described in detail in previous inspection reports, and which was the subject of NOV CV-2008-001, issued by the Division on May 2, 2008. The NOV has been terminated, a new sediment pond (Pond 12A) has been constructed in the watershed to ensure proper sedimentation control, and a geotechnical study including piezometric monitoring of the slide is in progress. Final slide remediation is pending completion of the geotechnical study(with monitoring to be continued through the 2009 spring runoff period). Sediment controls observed appeared to be properly maintained and functional. At Pond 12, the water appeared to be a couple feet below the top of the spillway riser, and the pond was not discharging. New Pond 12A, up- drainage in the Pond 012 watershed was recently completed, and was dry at the time of the flight. Construction certification for Pond 12A will need to be submitted to the Division. Ponds 11A, 13, and 14 all contained water; 11A was not discharging, status of discharge for Pond s 13 and 14 could not be discerned. Stock Tank STA was dry. Representative photos are attached. 3