Laserfiche WebLink
(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-1990-041 <br />INSPECTION DATE: 27 July 2010 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: nR2 <br />BSERVATIONS <br />This was a routine inspection conducted by David Bird of DRMS. The Bates-Hunter Mine is a 110(2) hard rock <br />underground mine. The Division holds financial warranty in the amount of $5,000 for the permit. The post- <br />mining land use is described as industrial/commercial. The operator's representative, Mr. George Otten, was <br />contacted but did not attend the inspection. An employee of the mine, Mr. William Phillips, was on site during <br />the inspection, but he was busy performing site maintenance and said that Mr. Otten had not informed him of the <br />inspection. <br />The site permit consists of two separate tracts totaling 3.5 acres. The Bates-Hunter facility occupies 1.0 acres and <br />is located between the towns of Central City and Blackhawk alongside state highway 279, at an elevation of 8,300 <br />ft. The Golden Gilpin Mill occupies the remaining 2.5 acres and is located about 1/2 mile up Highway 119 from <br />its intersection with State Highway 279. <br />The reclamation plan calls for regrading of any overburden material removed from the mine over the course of <br />events, replacement of any topsoil disturbed plus reseeding, and tailings impoundments will be contoured and <br />covered. All pre-existing structures will remain after closure. All trash, scrap equipment, ore stockpiles and other <br />non-essential items will be removed. <br />Conditions at the Bates-Hunter facility appear unchanged since the last Division inspection in July 2004. <br />According to Mr. Phillips, no production has occurred in that time period. Although no mining has occurred, Mr. <br />Phillips maintains the facilities. <br />Conditions at the Golden-Gilpin Mill appear mostly unchanged since the last Division inspection in July 2004. <br />However, comparison of the current condition of the Golden-Gilpin Mill with photos from the last inspection in <br />2004 indicates that some drainage control earthwork has been done at the site since 2004. The tailings south of <br />the mill were regraded, some rip rap installed, and silt fences were placed upslope from the facility to reduce run- <br />on to the tailings. Conditions that were amenable to formation of the mine drainage that was observed in 2004 <br />appear to have been mitigated to some extent. However, bare tailings are still exposed to the elements in close <br />proximity to North Clear Creek and should be monitored closely. The tailings should be stabilized at closure to <br />prevent acidic runoff to the creek. How this will be accomplished is going to require some thought, since a <br />supply of topsoil or other cover material does not appear to be available on the property. <br />There was no production, dewatering, or water treatment ongoing at either facility, and there have yet to be <br />tailings deposited at the mill. However, based on the amount of scrap, rubble, and refuse that would need to be <br />removed from both sites at closure together with the stabilization required of the tailings, the $5,000 financial <br />warranty held by the Division for this permit is inadequate and needs to be increased. This is listed as a problem <br />on page 3 of this report. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME: George Otten <br />OPERATOR: Central City Consolidated Mining <br />STREET: 11438 CR 19 <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP: Fort Lupton. CO 80621 <br />cc: r CE <br />IF BLM <br />F USFS <br />F HW <br />F HMWMD <br />t OSE <br />F WQCD <br />IF Gilpin County <br />F OTHER