_INSPECTION - C1981033 ‎(25)‎

• Permit No: C1981033
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: OSM Inspection Report
• From: OSM
• To: DRMS
• Inspection Date: 11/3/2009
• Email Name: JJD
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Bear No. 3 Phase I bond release, pg. 2
North Fork of the Gunnison River to access this site. The bridge is owned by Arch Coal and the
question as to whether or not the bridge will ultimately be retained remains to be answered. The
Hillside Spring Water Treatment Pond and a sediment pond are located within the reclaimed
area, but are excluded from this Phase I bond release inspection (see Figure 2). In addition, the
Delta Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) has expressed its desire to keep two (2) power
poles that remain near the reclaimed mine office area. However, before they can be retained the
DRMS will require letters from both the DMEA and the landowner formally requesting that the
poles be kept as pennanent structures.
Next we walked the reclaimed access road leading to the reclaimed fan and portal areas, which
are on a fairly steep grassed hillside(see Figures 3 and 4). The access road was reclaimed using
rocky backfill material and vegetation was well established. Although excluded from this BR
inspection, we also observed the reclaimed but unstable west side portal area(see Figure 5). We
continued to a rip-rapped ditch that denotes the western-most extension of the hillside area that is
up for bond release. It was at this point where we came upon a hillside spring that appears to be
coming from a pre-law mine (see Figure 6). The temperature of the spring water as it comes out
of the hillside is approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The discharge is orange in color but has
been found to be in compliance with water quality standards. Current speculation is that the
spring water probably contains an organic acid that is beneficial to plant life. The spring is lined;
with tamarisk and the DRMS recommends that it be removed by BCC. The spring runs through,
a 12-inch diameter plastic pipe to the Hillside Water Treatment Pond, and then discharges
continuously into the North Fork.of the Gunnison River (see Figure 7).
A drainage control system in place to treat disturbed area runoff and the group observed a
sediment pond collection ditch that runs parallel to the North Fork of the Gunnison River(see
Figure 8). The ditch and its supporting bean connect to the sediment pond mentioned above in
accordance with BCC's approved reclamation plan, and a string of several old amine cars were
buried to "beef up" the benm. A chain link fence runs along the top of the been between the
ditch and the river. DRMS will ask for a request letter from Arch Coal before recommending
that the fence be removed prior to issuing its proposed bond release decision. BCC and DRMS
agreed that the fence can be cut below ground level to satisfy this requirement. Lastly, we
observed that BCC had permit boundary signs in place.
We held a close out discussion following the inspection and Mr. Dudash did a thorough job of
describing our observations and the problem areas noted above that need to be addressed
including the removal of minor debris from the reclaimed main facilities area, and removal of the
chain link fence runs along the top of the berm between the ditch and the river. The DRMS will
conduct a follow-up inspection to ensure that these issues have been taken care of prior to DRMS
issuing a proposed Phase I bond release decision. This concluded the OSM portion of this Phase
I bond release inspection.
Please address any questions concerning this report to Howard Strand, Management/Program
Analyst, at listrand cr,osmre.gov or to [phone].