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The staging area sedimentation retention basin is working as designed. The inspector notes the basin is half full of <br />sediments. The operator will be doing maintenance on the basin to re- establish full capacity prior to the onset of <br />winter. <br />Sampling of springs continues as part of the groundwater monitoring program. Results are being reported as required. <br />General Mine Plan Review <br />PERMIT #: M- 2007 -044 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: GRM <br />INSPECTION DATE: October 7, 2011 <br />Currently the mine is on stand -by. No equipment is stored in the open. A shop building, office / mine dry building are at <br />the main entrance. A locked chain link fence controls access to the site. The mine is powered by an on -site generator. <br />Recent MSHA inspections required the upgrading of a berm in the generator area. The operator is in the process of top - <br />seeding the newly exposed disturbance. The fuel tank for the generator is in secondary containment. <br />All materials are neatly stacked in the staging / support area. As noted above no new waste rock has been developed. <br />The access road to the waste dump is bermed off to prevent vehicle access. <br />At the Packrat access is controlled by a locked steel gate. Some excess equipment and materials are stored here neatly. <br />There has been no major disturbance as approved in this area so no issues are noted. <br />Reclamation Plan Review <br />At the main mine area the inspector observed the topsoil stockpile on the north side of the road was very well vegetated <br />with slender wheat grass. Areas reclaimed under the old permit and undisturbed are very well vegetated with native <br />grasses and shrubs. The area stripped for the waste dump was top seeded to control erosion. Vegetation in this area is <br />doing very well. <br />There was some discussion on noxious weeds. Halogeton was observed, however it is not a listed noxious weed for <br />Mesa County. The operator notes an active weed spraying program that has identified and sprayed white -top and some <br />thistle. None of the plants were observed in areas inspected. <br />At the Packrat slopes are very well vegetated on pre - permit slopes. No erosion or sedimentation was observed. <br />Due to the phase of mining no other reclamation issues are noted. <br />Conclusion <br />The Division is reviewing the requirements for Intermittent Status (IS) and Temporary Cessation (TC) for all mining <br />operations. Based on the site's inactivity for an extended time beyond the original estimate it appears that the mine <br />and permit should be placed in TC rather than IS. A separate letter covering the subject will be forth coming so it is not <br />being addressed within this inspection report. <br />Overall the mine is meeting the requirements of the approved mine, reclamation, and EPP plans as observed. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Russ Means at the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, <br />Grand Junction Field Office, 101 South 3rd Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone no. 970 - 241 -1117. <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />