Laserfiche WebLink
III. COMMENTS - COMPLIANCE <br /> Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations <br /> made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken <br /> during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br /> This was a partial inspection of the Seneca II-W mine site conducted by Marcia <br /> Talvitie and Sandy Brown. Roy Karo accompanied us on the inspection. The primary <br /> focus of the inspection was to evaluate areas on the reclaimed mine site where <br /> there are stability issues. The weather was clear and warm. <br /> Pond 016 Landslide <br /> The slide incorporates a sizable portion of the regraded slope crossed by Haul Road (J), <br /> located northeast of Pond 016 (Photo 1). Undisturbed ground upslope of the slide does not <br /> appear to have been affected. The lower lobe of the slide has encroached upon the inlet end <br /> of Pond 016 (Photo 2). Monitoring wells have been installed by the operator, to document <br /> groundwater levels and movement of the slide mass. Potential mitigation measures are <br /> currently being evaluated by SCC. <br /> Pond 016A Landslide <br /> A pair of overlappi ng circular failures has developed on the relatively shallow reclaimed <br /> slope of the watershed immediately upstream (ESE) of Pond 016A (Photos 3a and 3b). <br /> Groundwater was observed percolating through some of the surface cracks. In one pool, <br /> what appeared to be methane was bubbling up from the ground. <br /> Pond 016 and 016A Watershed — Channel Erosion <br /> A recent, short-duration, high-intensity storm event had caused substantial damage to <br /> drainage structures constructed upstream of Pond 016A. Portions of the channels had been <br /> lined with Turf Reinforcing Mat (TRM), with varying degrees of success. TRM placed <br /> longitudinally in the channel worked best when the channel gradients were lower (Photo 4). <br /> It appeared that this technique lost its effectiveness when the channels were steeper (Photo <br /> 5) and flow velocities were higher. Roy Karo said these channels will be reconstructed this <br /> season. The "shingle" method of TRM installation may be used, wherein shorter strips of the <br /> mat are installed perpendicular to the direction of flow, and overlapped, working up-gradient. <br /> A pair of 48" corrugated metal pipe culverts (J-2) (Photo 6) was designed to carry channel <br /> flow beneath the access road and into Pond 016A. The section of channel immediately <br /> upstream of these culverts had been heavily armored with riprap placed on geotextile fabric. <br /> The recent heavy flows had gutted the riprap installation, gouged the channel, and <br /> transported much of the riprap through the culverts and into Pond 016A (Photo 7). <br /> Neckpit <br /> The slide area below the ridge south of the A-pit has been recently covered with TRM. <br /> Willow wattles were placed below the mat to direct the runoff to the central channel area. <br /> (Photo 10). <br />