_INSPECTION - C1981008 (24) - 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 an Aerial Inspection of the New Horizon Mine conducted by the Colorado DRMS at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Friday, 18 December 2009. Photos were reviewed by Marcia Talvitie. The sky appeared to be somewhat overcast, but weather conditions were dry. Permitting Activities • The application for PR-06 was determined to be Complete for purposes of filing on 23-Nov-2009. The public notice appeared in the San Miguel Basin Forum on the 3rd, IOth, 17th and 24th of December. The public comment period will be open through 23-Jan-2010. The Division will issue its preliminary adequacy review no later than 22-Jan-2010. • A bond release inspection for SL-12 (Partial Phase II and Phase III bond release) will be held in April or May of 2010. The Division will issue its preliminary adequacy review prior to the inspection. • The Division issued its decision to approve TR-59 (surface and groundwater sampling) on 02-Dec- 2009, and the decision was published on the 17th. The Division received a letter of objection from the Morgan/Turner families. In a follow-up telephone conversation, they indicated the objection would be withdrawn. Roads • County Roads that bisect the permit area (2700 Road, and BB Road east of 2700 Road) were reconstructed in 2008 and opened to the traveling public. Western Fuels had intended to have the roads paved with hot mix asphalt in 2009, but there was no contractor in the vicinity with an asphalt plant during the 2009 construction season. • Mine Haul Road traffic utilizes a concrete-reinforced truck crossing to travel from operations located west side of 2700 Road to those on the east (Photo 1). Hydrologic Balance • The surface of Pond 007 was frozen, with the exception of the NE corner at the inlet from the Krill drainage. • The surface of Pond 008 was frozen, and Pond 009 was dry. • Ice had formed in the western end of Pond 011. Discharge was occurring from the primary spillway, through the Parshall flume that conveys the flow to "Enstrom Draw" (Photo 2). • Water accumulating in the mine is pumped to Pond 011 via flexible lines placed around the southwestern perimeter of the disturbed area. The lines fill an elevated tank that is used for dust control purposes. Overflow from the tank flows into the northeast corner of Pond 011. • Puddles previously observed on the bottoms of Ponds 012 and 013 had become patches of ice. • Pond 014 had been removed by grading during reclamation of the BB Detour road on the Richards parcel (Photo 8). Backfill & Grading • The north-facing slopes on the Benson-East and Lloyd parcels have been furrowed along the contour, to prevent erosion and to facilitate the establishment of dryland pasture species (Photo 3). Topsoil • Four topsoil stockpiles (A, B, C and D) are located in the southeastern corner of the permit, south of the Support Facilities area and east of the Overburden Stockpile (Photo 4). New Horizon Mine C-1981-008 18-Dec-2009 -1-