2012-01-19_INSPECTION - M1977378

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OBSERVATIONS PERMIT #: M -1 ! 77 -378 INSPECTOR'S INITIAL : WHE INSPECTION DATE: July - 2, 2011 This inspection occurred as part of the Division's routine monitoring program of permitted operations. he Sunnyside Mine permit includes lands at the Lake Emma, Terry Tunnel, American Tunnel, and Mayflowe Tailings Pond 4 areas, totaling approximately 159 acres. The Operator has commenced final reclamatio at all areas. Affected lands will be reclaimed to support wildlife habitat and rangeland post- mining land use. he Division holds $60,534 financial warranty. Twelve photos accompany this report. Lake Emma: The Lake Emma area is located in Sunnyside Basin at approximately 12,000 feet elevation The permit area at the Lake Emma area is approximately 66.5 acres, and includes numerous historic and pre law mining disturbances. The approved reclamation plan does not address most of the historic and pre -law mining disturbances. Sunnyside Basin is a popular location for tourist. Several dozen ATVs and numerous hikers were observed within and nearby the permit area. The ATV traffic appeared to have potential for adverse impact to the Operator's revegetation efforts. Sunnyside Basin is also utilized for summer range. Several thousand sh ep were observed grazing within the basin and within or nearby the permit area. Access to the permit area in Sunnyside Basin, for tourist or livestock, is unrestricted. Lake Emma had been undermined by workings extending from the American Tunnel and collapsed into t e mine workings on June 4, 1978. Subsequently, the area was incorporated into the permit through a 198 amendment. Backfilling of the subsidence feature commenced 1992. Significant snow and ice had accumulated in the subsidence feature prior to commencement of backfilling activities. Due to the high altitude environment the buried snow /ice melted slowly, resulting in periodic settling and shifting of the overlaying materials. Backfill was augmented, and the area graded and seeded annually, until evidence .if instability ceased. Tension cracks in the backfill area persisted until 2007. No tension cracks have been observed since the grading and reseeding occurring in 2007. Since 2007 reclamation activities at the Lak- Emma area appears limited to establishment of a vegetative cover capable of self- regeneration and at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the surrounding area. As shown in photos 1, 2 and 3, vegetative cover was well established for approximately 40% of the lake basin area. Vegetative cover appeared to have been recently grazed, possibly by sheep. Vegetative cover for the remaining 60% of the lake basin area was sparse. Occurrence of noxious weeds was not observed. Reclaimed lands appeared stable; no evidence of settling, slumping or excessive erosion was observed. As shown in photo 3, evidence of minor erosion was observed at a location immediately down slope of an upland diversion ditch. The ditch appeared to have overflowed due to obstruction by snow /ice. The Operator had addressed the erosion by placement of erosion control mats over the eroded slope. Terry Tunnel: The Terry Tunnel is located immediately downstream of Sunnyside Basin, adjacent to Eureka Creek, at approximately 10,500 feet elevation. The permit area at the Terry Tunnel is approximately 7.12 acres, and includes a portal and waste rock stockpile (mine bench). The original portal and mine bench were constructed in the 1880's. Topsoil was not salvaged prior to the pre -law mining activity and was not available for reclamation purposes. The portal was closed with two bulkheads and backfilled (circa 1996) in accordance with the approved Page 2 of 4