Laserfiche WebLink
III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was an Aerial Inspection of the Hamilton Mine conducted by the Colorado DRMS on Friday, <br />18 December 2009 at approximately 2:00 p.m. Photographs were reviewed by Marcia Talvitie. <br />Weather conditions were overcast. <br />Permitting Actions <br />TR-09 - This revision requests that Pond B be retained as a permanent feature. In order to <br />continue with the review process, data on the quality of water retained in the pond is required. <br />Water samples will be obtained and analyzed in the spring of 2010. <br />SL-02 - This Phase II Bond Release Application was determined to be Complete for purposes of <br />filing on 18-Dec-2009. The bond release inspection will likely be scheduled in May 2010. The <br />Division will issue a Preliminary Adequacy Review during the first quarter of 2010. <br />Signs and Markers <br />• Surface disturbance markers were visible along the northern side of the eastern leg of <br />reclaimed Mining Area No. 1. <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />• Ponds A (Photo 1) and B (Photo 2) were both dry. The outer embankments for both <br />appeared to be stable and well vegetated, with the exception of the eastern end of the <br />Pond B structure, which was disturbed in 2005 during repairs. The slope appears to stable, <br />but is comparatively barren of vegetation. <br />General Mine Plan Compliance <br />• It appears from the photos that tamarisk skeletons are still standing within Ponds A and B. <br />Fish & Wildlife <br />• A small group of mule deer (4 or 5) were browsing in the eastern leg of reclaimed Mining <br />Area No. 1. <br />Revegetation <br />• Mining Area No. 1 exhibits noticeable variation in vegetative cover. The southwest corner <br />and western half of the northern leg (Photo 3) and the majority of the eastern leg (Photo 4) <br />have scattered sage brush and rabbit brush, with grasses less visible due to the season. The <br />eastern half of the northern leg (Photo 5, a close-up from Photo 3) has only isolated stands of <br />sage or rabbit brush, and several areas of what appears to be bare soil. Grasses appear to <br />be better established in the north-central portion. <br />Vegetative cover in Mining Area No. 3 appears to be more uniform, although there is a <br />longitudinal pattern visible - perhaps due to previous re-seeding efforts (Photo 6). <br />Reclamation Success <br />Phase I bond release was achieved in August 1994 with the approval of SL-01. Reclaimed <br />areas have continued to remain stable with respect to erosion, but establishing vegetation in <br />this and region has proven to be challenging. The success of reclamation efforts, to date, will <br />be evaluated through the SL-02 bond release review process. <br />Hamilton Mine C-1991-078 18-Dec-2009