_INSPECTION - C1980005 (28) - Laserfiche WebLink

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y 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. General Comments This was an aerial inspection of the Seneca II Mine. Harry Ranney of DRMS took 34 oblique to near vertical digital aerial images during the fly-over on May 20, 2010. The images were viewed by Dan Mathews of the Division on 5/27/10. Snow had completely melted off the reclamation, with the exception of a couple remnant patches in drift locations on north slopes at the highest elevations of the mine. Muddy conditions and puddles were evident in various locations along roads throughout the site, apparently from recent rains with soils still moist to saturated from snowmelt. Significant recent growth of established grasses was evident in most all areas, particularly at lower elevations. Flow was evident in major reclaimed drainages, and most stock ponds and sediment ponds contained full pools. Roads Muddy conditions and puddles were evident along various road segments, including E-1 in the vicinity of the Road F junction and various other segments, upper segment of the South Light Use Road, and various locations along Road E Hydrologic Balance Sediment Ponds 002,003, 004, and 008 were all observed. The ponds contained full pools, with no problems evident. The Pecoco impoundment also appeared to be full. The small spill containment pond for the fuel tank site west of Pond 002 contained a shallow pool. The shop facility collection ditch was conveying flow to Pond 003, and appeared to be functioning properly. A number of stock ponds were evident in the photos, including T- 8, T-17, T-20, T-30, T-31, T-32, and T-33. Each of these ponds contained water, and appeared to be full or nearly so. Backfill and Grading A couple oblique photos and one vertical photo covered portions of the recently reclaimed solid waste disposal area and adjacent portions of the upper PM-10 watershed. It did not appear that the maintenance grading and channel repair noted to be necessary in the previous inspection report had yet been implemented. Based on muddy conditions apparent in the May 20 photos, it is likely that ground conditions have precluded access and site work. Repair of the "steep sided cobbly gully" described in the previous inspection report may require extension of the channel across the former scraper route,to tie into the undisturbed ephemeral drainage up-slope. The East Wadge reclaimed area in the Pond 008 watershed was covered by several oblique photos from various angles. The erosion control "V"ditches appear to have held up well and functioned properly, and no erosion problems were noted on the reclaimed slopes or along Permanent Channel PM-8. One apparent gully that will need to be ground checked and may require repair was noted in the general vicinity of Chavez Point(the highest point on the reclamation). More specifically, the gully was located in what appeared to have been a previous gully repair location along the northern perimeter of the reclamation, several hundred feet west of an old avalanche/slide chute, west of Chavez Point. Revegetation In the aerial photos, a significant and relatively uniform appearing vegetative cover is present in most areas across the reclaimed landscape,with relatively few areas of significant extent that appear bare or sparsely vegetated. One exception is the pre-law Wolf Creek spoils area, approximately 45 acres of which was limed and reseeded in the fall of 2007. The retreated area supports a better cover than prior to treatment, but at present the area is still quite patchy, with a significant extent of bare or sparsely vegetated areas. 3