_INSPECTION - C1982057 ‎(67)‎

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 5/26/2009
• Email Name: DTM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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 a partial inspection of the Seneca II-W Mine, accompanied by Roy Karo, SCC Reclamation Manager.
The Tie Across Haul Road was inspected on the afternoon of 5/26, other portions of the mine were inspected on
5/28 and the morning of 5/29. Weather was cloudy with intermittent light rain on 5/26, clear and mild on 5/28
and 5/29. Due to rains over the weekend on top of soils that were at high moisture levels from snowmelt,
conditions remained muddy at higher elevations and some locations were still not accessible by vehicle at the
end of the week. It appeared that high intensity rainfall had occurred in some locations, most notably in the Pond
016 watershed of the South Mine area,where lower segments of the permanent stream channels were heavily
eroded and extensive repairs will be required.
The mine has been largely reclaimed, with the exception of the shop area and entrance road. Large scale
drainage maintenance, slide repair, and weed control are on-going activities.
Roads
The Tie Across Haul Road, Mine Entrance Haul Road, Haul Road "A", Haul Road "J", Haul Road "K", and the
Ridgeline Access Road were open and were driven. The Ridgeline Light Use Road was impassable south of
Culvert PM-10, which prevented access to upper portions of the 016 and 017 watersheds in the South Mine
Area. Seasonal maintenance has recently been initiated in various locations along the roads, and is continuing.
The following specific concerns were noted:
• Roy Karo pointed out a couple gullied relief drain ditches on either side of a large fill along the Tie
Across Road, that were not visible from the vehicle. The location is known as"Coffee Break Hill", and
the erosion is mentioned in a notation on the 2009 Rill and Gully survey map. The more severe erosion
is on the north side of the road. This location had eroded in years past, shortly after the road was
constructed, and the ditch was subsequently lined with large riprap. The original rilprap has washed out
and new erosion has resulted (see Photo#9). Repair and stabilization of the ditches on both sides
of the road is required.
• On the Ridgeline Road approximately 120'west of the Pond 005 embankment, concentrated flow had
resulted in a short gully up to 1 foot deep on the road embankment. Repair is necessary; riprap or
TRM installation appears to be warranted. Gully is marked on 2009 R&G survey map.
Further up the Ridgeline Road, minor rilling was observed along a reclaimed topsoil stockpile access
road, and concentrated flow from this location had resulted in a gully on the road outslope.Stabilization
measures both up-slope from the travel surface and on the fill slope are warranted. This location
is marked on the 2009 R&G map.
• Significant rilling was noted to the north side of the travel surface along the Ridgeline Road between
Stock Pond T-22 and the reclaimed "D" Pit spoils, with a gully on the north side of the fill slope at the
curve just up the road from the stock pond. The gully is marked for repair on the 2009 R&G Map;
interseeding may be warranted along the side of the road.
• A drop structure installation is needed on the channel near the brush-line below Culvert A-5 on
the Ridgeline Access Road,to stabilize head-cut erosion. This is marked on the 2009 R&G Map.
• The T-2 and T-3 sediment check ponds along Road "A", south of the shop area, were both full of water
and appeared to be functioning properly. TRM inlet channels to the check ponds appeared to be
functioning well. The check ponds will likely need to be excavated to clean out accumulated
sediment later this spring/summer.
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