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release request area. The three sediment ponds observed (PECOCO, 004, and 008) have been <br />approved as permanent impoundments, and were discharging clear flows at the time of the inspection. <br />Ponds 004 and 008 are CDPS discharge points; PECOCO is not. Pond embankments were stable <br />and well vegetated. The large Wadge impoundment (Sediment Pond/CDPS Discharge Point 002) is <br />not within the SL-3 release request area, but receives discharge from the PECOCO Pond and <br />disturbed runoff from areas downstream of PECOCO, within the SL-3 area. Pond 002 has also been <br />approved as a permanent impoundment and was discharging clear flow at the time of the inspection. <br />SCC has submitted water quality monitoring summary data within the narrative and Attachment F of <br />the SL-3 application. This information and additional relevant information from the operator's <br />extensive and long term surface and ground water quality monitoring program was reviewed by the <br />Division during the course of the SL-3 evaluation. Based on observations made during the inspection <br />and review of data from the on-going monitoring program, the Division concludes that pollution of <br />groundwater and surface water that would necessitate abatement is not occurring, and the Division <br />does not project that such pollution would occur in the future. <br />Erosional Features and Stability of Reclaimed Lands <br />Erosional and mass stability of reclaimed slopes and permanent drainages were thoroughly evaluated <br />and intensely inspected during the 2006 SL-1 review. These topics were also assessed during the SL-3 <br />inspection. Despite the fact that 2007/2008 snowpack and resultant runoff in the mine vicinity was <br />unusually heavy, the extent of excessive erosion and slope failure features within the release request <br />area was very limited. Generally, past grading and channel construction operations, in combination <br />with good to excellent vegetative ground cover establishment and annual rill and gully monitoring <br />and repair activities were found to have resulted in a stable reclaimed landscape. Remnant minor <br />scarps and cracks from healed or repaired slump features were observed in various steep slope <br />locations, but with exceptions noted, the old slump areas appear to have stabilized and have not <br />moved in many years. A few areas of minor gully erosion, ditch scour, and one small slump were <br />observed within the bond release application area, and stabilization grading or other maintenance <br />needs were noted. The slump and several of the gullies were delineated by the operator on the 2008 <br />Rill and Gully Survey Map; however some of the gullies and segments of scoured road ditches had <br />not been identified on the Rill and Gully Survey Map. The slump and erosional areas that warranted <br />repair were identified and listed in the initial SL-3 inspection report. Most of the features were <br />repaired as noted in the October 16-17, 2008 follow-up inspection with the exceptions below. <br />• A gully that originated from a temporary diversion around a shrub planting area was noted <br />above Road F, south of Stock Pond T-30. The gully is 12 to 18 inches deep, approximately <br />100 yards in length. Though not marked on the 2008 Rill and Gully Survey Map, both the <br />gully and the contributing diversion need to be reclaimed. See Photo 3981, GPS#21. This <br />feature was over-looked on follow-up inspections, and the operator subsequently indicated <br />that it had been missed during their maintenance project. The Division considers this feature <br />to be a maintenance item that will need to be ground checked and repaired during 2009. <br />• A road ditch outlet at the intersection of Road C and Road F had resulted in a gully <br />extending approximately 100 feet down the reclaimed slope below the road. Stabilization <br />10