2010-07-02_INSPECTION - C1992080

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Ill. 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 a Partial Inspection of the Carbon Junction Mine conducted by Marcia Talvitie of the Colorado DRMS beginning at 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 June 2010. No one was present to represent the operator, Oakridge Energy, Inc. during the inspection. Skies were clear and temperatures were warm. This inspection focused on the northern half of the permit area. Roads • The road to the reclaimed North Pit is in fairly good condition. Three large water bars have been installed at the switchbacks to direct runoff away from the roadway. • Some mild erosion was observed on the road surface, due to sheet flow on the steeper segments. Backfill & Grading • Reclamation of the North Pit is tied in very nicely with the adjacent undisturbed lands (Photo 1). Revegetation • Revegetation efforts at the North Pit appear to be extremely successful. Slopes and benches are covered with an assortment of wheat grasses; brome; cicer milkvetch; a pink-flowered milkvetch; and the occasional alfalfa plant. • A few musk thistle and Scotch thistle plants are were also observed at the North Pit. Weed control efforts must be continued on an annual basis. Slides and Damage • In the northeastern half of the North Pit, a tension crack has formed just downslope of and parallel to the line of excelsior logs that marks the slope break. The crack is approximately 40' in length, and appears to be up to 18 inches In depth (Photo 2). • A zone of instability was observed at the western toe of the Rock Fill, adjacent to the paved roadway (Photo 3). Although the surface was dry at the time of the inspection, It appears that excess water may be moving out of the slope on a seasonal basis. The surface of the soil is disturbed, and the predominant vegetation at the location is field bindweed, in contrast to the vegetation established elsewhere on the Rock Fill. Excess Spoil and Development Waste • Adjacent to the northeast side of the Rock Fill, there is an area (perhaps 1/2 acre in size) which appears to pond water on a seasonal basis (Photo 4). The ground was dry at the time of the Inspection, but vegetation differences (foxtail and weeds) and remnant wildlife footprints provide clear indication that ponding does occur. There exists the possibility that water ponded here is contributing to the toe bulge described in the preceding section. Continued monitoring of the Rock Fill is warranted. Carbon Junction Mine C-1992-080 30-Jun-2010