_INSPECTION - C1981033 (56) - 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. There were two purposes in conducting this inspection. The first was to conduct a complete inspection, oversighted by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM). The second purpose was to conduct a special focus inspection for signs and markers, oversighted by OSM. Representing the Bear Coal Company was Bill Bear. Representing OSM was Christine Belka, Christy Hulsman and Howard Strand. Joe Dudash represented the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Signs and Markers The mine identification sign was clearly visible on its post at the entrance to the site at the top of the hill. The required mine information was on the sign. On the same post was the "records location" sign. Surface disturbance markers were up around the disturbed area. The markers consisted of the chain link fence along the river, permit boundary signs and white pvc pipe on t-posts. Due to safety concerns and difficulty in access, there were no surface disturbance markers in the vicinity of the cliff. The "no trespassing" sign was on the front gate. Roads The paved entrance road was in good condition. There was no debris from the adjacent landowner blocking the road and the cable guard was in place on the outside edge of the road. The bridge across the North Fork of the Gunnison River was passable. The entrance gate at the bottom of the hill and east of the bridge was open. Hydrology There was no standing water in the sediment pond. The gate on the primary discharge pipe was closed. A large rock had, apparently, been placed at the outlet of this pipe, presumably to prevent wildlife from nesting in the pipe. However, the rock would have prevented full flow through the pipe and, therefore, was removed. Just inside the pipe outlet was a smaller rock that will need to be dug out in order to allow full flow through the pipe. The discharge pipe was still functional, however. The riprapped emergency spillway was clear of debris and the sediment pond inslopes and outslopes were stable. The two collection ditches that flow, one into the other, and, then, into the sediment pond, had sufficient capacity. The ditches had a moderate vegetative cover. The hillside spring water treatment pond was discharging at about 10 gallons per minute. The treatment pond discharge was being piped to the river. The discharge water had its characteristic orange color, which has been found in the past to be in compliance with water quality standards. The water level in the treatment pond was about 8 inches below the level of the horizontal pipe. The inslopes and outslopes of the treatment pond were stable. The hillside spring was flowing out of the hillside at a point about 20 feet from the bottom of the hill. The flow was channeled properly to the treatment pond by way of a constructed ditch and culvert.