Laserfiche WebLink
(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1981-185 <br />INSPECTION DATE 4/8/10 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS WHE <br />This inspection occurred in response to a citizen's complaint from Phil Vigil, dated April 5, 2010 and received by <br />the Division on April 6, 2010, and as part of the Division's review process of the amendment application (AM-01) <br />to the May Day Mine permit. This report is accompanied by copy of the citizen's complaint and 11 photos taken <br />during the inspection. <br />As shown in Photos 1 and 2, the public notice (sign), required by Rule 1.6.2(1)(b) is in error and must be reposted. <br />Pursuant to Rule 1.6.2(1)(b), the Applicant must provide a signed affidavit that such notice (sign) has been posted. <br />The Division inspector parked at the yard of 4314 County Road 124 and walked in on the unpermitted road. Snow <br />had not been recently plowed from the unpermitted road. There were no vehicle tracks in the snow. The tracks <br />from foot traffic in the snow on the unpermitted road appeared minimal and random (Photo 3). The unpermitted <br />road is the subject of Violations MV-2009-007 and MV-2009-033, issued to the Idaho Mill, M-2006-069. Pursuant <br />to the Cease and Desist Orders for those two violations, the unpermitted road may not be utilized to support any <br />mining activity until the road is fully addressed by an approved reclamation plan and financial warranty. <br />Observations made during the inspection and recorded in this report indicate that the Operator is compliant with <br />the Cease and Desist Orders for Violations MV-2009-007 and MV-2009-033. <br />As shown in Photo 4, evidence of recent vehicle traffic was observed on the historic access route, commencing at <br />the end of the residential driveways for 4432 County road 124 and 4434 County Road 124, and progressing across <br />US Forest Service (USFS) lands. The USFS has recently closed this route to motor vehicles and during the day of <br />this inspection posted signage to inform the public. This route across USFS lands previously provided access to <br />the Idaho Mill, May Day Mine and Incas Mine. During the time of this inspection no mine personnel were <br />contacted and no mining related activities were observed. However, while inspecting the May Day Mine and <br />Idaho Mill sites, the Division's inspector heard vehicle sounds from within the Deadwood Creek watershed, which <br />was assumed to be associated with the Incas Mine. The Incas Mine was not inspected. Snow had been plowed <br />from all access roads for the May Day Mine, with the exception of the unpermitted road addressed above and <br />shown in Photo 3. <br />As shown in Photo 5, the portal at May Day Level 2 was snowed in. No evidence of recent activity was observed at <br />the Level 2 portal area. <br />As shown in Photos 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11, evidence of activity having occurred at the Level 1 area since the Division's <br />November 24, 2009 inspection, was observed. Specifically, snow had been plowed from the road and mine bench, <br />some equipment and material stockpiles had been relocated and a flue pipe had been installed on the top of the <br />mill building. A stockpile of coal was located nearby the entrance to the mill building, suggesting that the flue <br />pipe may be a chimney for a wood or coal stove recently placed within the mill building. If so, given the proximity <br />of the chimney to available natural and imported fuels, a spark arrestor appears prudent. The mill building was <br />locked and could not be inspected. As shown in Photo 10, snow had not been recently removed from the old <br />portal at Level 1, indicating that no equipment had recently accessed the mine through the old portal at Level 1. <br />On December 10, 2009, the Board issued Violation MV-2009-035 for failure to comply with the conditions of the <br />reclamation permit. The Cease and Desist Order for Violation MV-2009-035 prohibited all mining related activities