_INSPECTION - C1981015 ‎(9)‎

• Permit No: C1981015
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 12/5/2009
• 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.
This was a complete quarterly inspection of the reclaimed Fruita mine permit revocation site,
conducted by Dan Mathews of the DRMS Grand Junction Field Office. Weather was clear and cold.
A remedial reclamation project was performed at the site in early November, as a follow-up to work
completed in the early spring of 2009. The Division's Inactive Mine Program (IMP) developed the
work plan and bid documents for both projects, with input from Coal Regulatory Program staff. The
work was completed by contractors, paid for by a combination of remaining forfeited bond funds and a
grant from the OSM civil penalties fund. The November follow-up project was undertaken primarily to
repair erosion caused by a significant flood event that occurred in August 2009, as well as to roughen
and interseed a small area at the #2 Mine portal backfill, where herbaceous vegetation did not
establish well from initial seeding in the 1990's. Small areas along the main riprapped channel and
the equipment access route to the channel repair location were also roughened, seeded and mulched
upon completion of work. Work on the main riprap channel and adjacent areas downstream of the toe
of the Mine #1 outslope was performed with heavy equipment; other work was performed by hand to
minimize disturbance to previously reclaimed areas.
Signs and Markers
The old gate with the DMG revoked permit I.D. sign has been removed from the site, and a new cable
gate with combination lock has been erected by the landowner.
Hydrologic Balance and Backfill & Grading
Erosion damage from the August 2009 flood described in the previous DRMS report, was repaired by
the IMP remedial project in November. The main channel below the #1 Bench outslope was re-
shaped and riprapped. The primary tributary channel that ties into the main riprap channel below the
steep #1 outslope was also re-shaped and rock checks were installed.
Hand repairs including minor channel shaping and rock placement, including installation of small rock
checks, was undertaken in several areas, including rills along the lower reclaimed #1 mine bench
access road, locations in the vicinity of the #1 Mine portal backfill and along the steep segment of the
main channel on the outslope, where rock had been scoured out in a few locations by flood flows.
A 2 foot high berm was installed along the lowest part of the sediment pond embankment, using dry
sediment from the sediment pond, which was largely silted in due to the August flood. The pond will
no longer retain significant water or sediment. Based on vegetation cover data collected by the
Division in 2005, demonstration was made that runoff retention in the sediment pond was no longer
necessary, because sedimentation from the site would not exceed premine conditions. The open
channel spillway which was enlarged and improved with additional riprap in the spring of 2009,
functioned well during the August flood event.
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