_INSPECTION - C1981022 (30) - Laserfiche WebLink

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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 Partial Inspection of the Elk Creek Mine conducted by Marcia Talvitie of the Colorado DRMS beginning at 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, 27 October 2009. Jim Kiger represented the operator, Oxbow Mining, LLC, during the inspection. Weather conditions were cold and snowing. The inspection covered the mine's facilities located in the Elk Creek and Hubbard Creek drainages, along with the East Yard. Roads • Roads throughout the permit area were wet, due to the snowstorm that began earlier in the day. • The parking area on USFS land adjacent to the Hubbard Creek sedimentation pond was clear-there were no vehicles parked or construction materials stored. Hvdroloaic Balance • Pond A was retaining some water. • The water levels in Ponds B and D remained too low for discharge to occur. • Roadside ditches throughout the East Yard and Elk Creek facilities were graded to drain as designed. Support Facilities • In the East Yard, cast iron pipe was being loaded onto a flat bed truck to be hauled up Bear Creek for use in the ongoing mine ventilation borehole drilling operations. • The fan and housing have not yet been removed from the Hubbard Creek Fansite. Jim Kiger mentioned that if the fall weather holds out, the site may be reclaimed this year, after work reclaiming the drill holes and roads is finished. • The fan at Bear Creek is not yet in operation. There have been challenges with the motor balance, among other things. General Mine Plan Compliance • Drilling has been completed on all but three of the 20 boreholes permitted with TR-63 in 2009. Oxbow plans to complete the remaining three holes before the winter. Slides & Damage • No evidence of new or reactivated slide activity was observed. Elk Creek Mine C-1981-022 27-Oct-2009