_INSPECTION - C1981010 (52) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

December 14,2010 C-1981-010/Trapper Mine RDZ FISH and WILDLIFE—Rule 4.18: Two bald eagles and dozens of elk were observed on the north side of the mine site. Two coyotes were observed near the Molly Brown dragline. Several antelope were observed near the mine entrance. Elk barrier cages were observed around trees planted in Johnson Gulch drainage. HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05: The East A Pit contained water; it is approximately 70 feet deep per Graham Roberts. Some ponds were discharging during the inspection. These included Middle Flume#3 pond,the East Pyeatt ponds,Johnson Gulch ponds,No Name ponds, and the Industrial Waste pond. Middle Flume, East Pyeatt, Johnson Gulch,and No Name drainages contain NPDES discharge locations at the ponds closest to the northern permit boundary, and these were monitored for water quality during the inspection by Graham Roberts. The inspection indicated no water quality problems such as exceptionally high or low pH; exceptionally high conductivity; or visible discharges of oil, grease or turbid water at any of the pond discharge points. All sediment ponds except Deal Pond(which was not accessible due to snow conditions)were observed, and the following maintenance issues were observed: • Sediment level markers are missing at many ponds,especially those that continually hold water. This problem should be rectified or an additional method to assess sediment accumulation should be employed. • At Middle Pyeatt#3 pond and Johnson#6 pond burrow holes in the embankments should be filled. The Industrial Waste Pond was inspected. Many cattails were removed since previous inspection. The boom is generally in good shape,however, it does not contact the water surface at the banks,allowing petroleum product from truck wash water to escape the boom; some sheen is visible on the pond between the boom and the outlet. Also the water is turbid. This is not considered a significant problem because: • The outlet of the pond(a horizontal pipe that functions as the primary spillway) is usually below the surface of the pond, and petroleum product will not generally flow through the outlet. • The discharge from this pond is treated with an oil water separator and by a wetlands channel, and these stormwater management practices will provide treatment of the discharge. • Graham Roberts indicated that the flow out of this pond rarely(if ever) flows as surface runoff to No Name Gulch. • No Name Gulch also contains a series of sediment ponds that would further treat any discharge that night reach the channel. GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLANCE: Activities at K Ridge Pit,F Pit,the Ash Pit, and other areas were observed. At the K Ridge, on December 14th,the Molly Brown dragline was moving spoil while excavators were loading Caterpillar 777 trucks Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 Page 3 of 9