2008-11-11_INSPECTION - M1986076

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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1986-076 INSPECTION DATE 10/30/08 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO.PSH OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Hard Rock/Metals 110d permits. The operator was contacted about the scheduled inspection. The operator's representative named on page one met the inspectors prior to the inspection at the La Plata River crossing, and all proceeded to the site; he was present throughout the inspection. The required permit ID sign was posted at the entrance to the site, and the permit boundary signs are maintained at the boundary corners. All activity is inside the permitted area boundary. The site was active during 2008, despite temporary difficulties with the road access. Mining is carried out in accordance with the approved phased mining plan. Part of the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) requires the operator to provide sets of water samples to DBMS, on a defined schedule every year that the mine and mill are active. The operator has submitted the summer 2008 set of samples, and has yet to submit the fall 2008 set of samples. Please ensure that the fall samples were taken and sent to the lab properly. (Note: The previous analysis did not include all of the five parameters that are required. Please make sure the lab tests for pH, electrical conductivity, WAD cyanide, total dissolved solids, and sulfates.) The mill building was in good condition. The concrete floor and stem walls serve as the secondary containment, so verifyindg their integrity is important. The byuilding's outside corner that was previously noted becoming undermined by erosion has been stabilized by rock placement and additional grouting. There were no cracks to the foundation or stem wall noted. The walls and roof are metal and in good shape, adequate for keeping the weather outside. The floor was dry, and the building and the containment appeared to be functional. The milling circuit was operational during 2008, but was temporarily shut down at the time of the DBMS inspection. It will be still winterized before the site is closed this year. The operator showed the inspectors all the chemicals being stored and used onsite. They were all consistent with those in the approved plan. The inventory of chemicals in the building is being reduced by the operator. When the unneeded chemicals are removed, the operator must provide an updated chemical list (including quantities), and the operator should note if the updated list will become permanent. Reducing the list, without adding any new chemicals to the list, will not require a technical revision. The fuel storage (outside the building) is intact and covered. The tailings auger was clogged by sands, but will be cleaned out as part of winterizing. The sump was full of tailings sand and must be mucked out and trammed down to the tailings pond prior to operations next year. There is still a lot of remaining capacity to the tailings pond, though it was more full than last year. Reclamation of the tailings pond was discussed: pulling embankment materials in over the tailings surface and recontouring the cap to blend with the slope. The pond must not be over-filled. When capacity is being reached a new tailings location must be approved. The mining of the narrow vein is proceeding along the cut in the main mining area. Ore is still hand cobbed from the cut and crushed to 3/4-minus before going to the mill. As the vein is further exposed along the nearly vertical wall, the height of the cut is reaching its limit. The cut wall exhibits highly fractured rock, that has sloughed in a few places. Even though it is angular it will continue to fail; over time the sloughing will continue farther up the slope, and eventually undermine the upper road bench or damage native topsoil. This is not a problem at this time, but the operator must revise the method of mining, begin backfilling the present cut, seek a different mining location, or actively find another solution. An unintended slope failure may cause the bond to increase. The site still contains a few pieces of unused, steel equipment and parts. These are not present in large quantity, but will continue to be a reclamation cost liability until they are removed. The operator will be installing earthen/rock safety berms along the crests of all roadways and benches that are used in the operation. The roads and benches are narrow and allow little room for usable widths after the addition of the berms. The operator is urged to install these berms carefully, since widening the working areas by new cuts or fills may destabilize portions of the already-steep slope where the mine is located. Limited examples of slope movement exist at the site now, and the operator must continue to avoid adding to the condition. Weed control has been carried out every year, and this inspector is pleased to see that the Canada thistle is nearly gone. Monitoring should continue and timely treatment should occur as needed. The operator has spot treated the problem plants with Roundup, which is non-selective and kills good plants too. A couple large patches of thistle were eliminated, but all the native forbs and grasses are gone there too. A different herbicide should be considered, one that targets broadleaf weeds. An