_INSPECTION - C1981025 (20) - Laserfiche WebLink

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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. This was a regular quarterly complete inspection of the North Thompson Creek Mines conducted by Tom Kaldenbach and Jim Stark of DRMS. The mine records were checked on June 16, 2009 and the field inspection was conducted the following day. Stan Muhr represented the operator during the field portion of the inspection. DRMS is reviewing an application for full and final bond release for the permit area(file SL-06). A bond release inspection for SL-06 was conducted on April 17, 2007. As a follow-up to the SL-6 bond release inspection, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management requested to go along on the field portion of the current inspection. The following people attended: Liane Mattson and David Francomb of the U.S. Forest Service, and Jeff O'Connell of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The OSM was notified, but did not attend. The disturbed areas at the mine site and loadout are on privately-owned land. Reclamation bond on deposit with the State is associated with the following three items: the 4.3-acre permanent Developed Water Resources area, two flumes in North Thompson Creek, and two flumes in Middle Thompson Creek. Of the 3,300 acres in the bond release area, 1,504 acres were affected by mining, which included both federal and privately owned surface and coal mineral rights. The ground was dry during this inspection. The operator's representative explained that ranch workers recently buried a power line in the two track road next to the Long Pond for a livestock watering pump. Selected photographs taken during the inspection are provided at the end of this report. Availability of Records All required records were on file at the Garfield County Courthouse in Glenwood Springs (see attached list). Signs and Markers Disturbed area boundary markers (steel stakes) were properly displayed at the numerous locations inspected. Mine i.d. signs (including the DRMS address and phone number) were properly displayed on the public road entrances into the permit area. No topsoil markers are required as all topsoil replacement has been completed. Roads The only remaining roads in the permit area, other than County and U.S. Forest Service roads, are the two-track light use road that extends through the Water Development (treatment) area and the former haul road that extends through the former loadout portion of the permit area. The two-track and haul road have been approved as permanent features to remain after final bond release. The two-track road was in good condition during the inspection; the haul road was not inspected. 3