_INSPECTION - C1991078 (27) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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. This was a Complete Inspection of the Hamilton Mine conducted by Marcia Talvitie of the Colorado DRMS beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, 17 August 2009. Dave Andrews was present during the records check. No representative of the operator was present during the inspection. Weather conditions were clear, hot and breezy. Availability of Records • Records were available for inspection at the Broad Canyon Landfill office. • A completed DRMS Records Inspection checklist is attached to this report. Roads • All roads were dry, allowing access to Mine Areas 1 and 3, and Ponds A and B. Hydrologic Balance • Pond A and Pond B were both dry. • The three metal culvert pipes at the turnoff to Mining Area 3 were clear at inlet and outlets. • Roadside ditches were all clear, and appeared to be functioning as designed. General Mine Plan Compliance • Sections of barbed-wire fence were opened at reclaimed Mining Areas 1 and 3, allowing access to wildlife (and potentially livestock, although no cattle were observed in the area during the inspection). Revegetation • At Mining Area 1, Indian rice grass and needle-and-thread grass were plentiful at the southern end (Figure 1). The density of four-wing saltbush and sage increases to the north, while the amount of grass decreases (Figure 2). Winterfat appears to be doing particularly well within the reclaimed area (Figure 3). • The reference area, located west of the haul road, had abundant needle-and-thread grass throughout (Figure 4). Reclamation Success • Russian knapweed observed on previous inspections had the appearance of having been sprayed. Dave Andrews said weeds would be sprayed again this fall. • There were a number of Russian thistle sprouts on the haul road immediately south of Mining Area 3. They,appeared to have been sprayed, preventing them from growing larger. • The weed population on the eastern end of the impoundment for Pond B has been effectively controlled,by spraying. Permitting Activity • TR-09 seeks to have (Pond B retained as a permanent impoundment. The Preliminary Adequacy Review was issued by the Division on 13-Aug-2009. • TR-10, which includes a Soil Loss Demonstration, was called Complete on 11-Aug-2009. The Division is currently reviewing the application. Hamilton Mine C-1991-078 17-Aug-2009