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February 23, 2012 C -1981 -012 /New Elk Mine JHB <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 8 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> <br /> Page 3 of 8 <br /> <br />Steele, the Surface Foreman at the New Elk Mine site dies not have a copy of the permit at the mine site. Rule <br />5.02.4(1) requires copies of re cords, reports, and information to be available at “a convenient place in the area of <br />mining.” While storage of the approved permit information at the Trinidad office was reasonable with the mine <br />was idle, it is important to have a current copy of the ap proved permit available at the mine now that the mine is <br />active. Please keep a current copy of the permit at the mine and assure that the permit is updated as changes are <br />approved by the Division. <br /> <br />BACKFILL and GRADING – Rule 4.14 Contemporaneous Reclama tion 4.14.1; Approximate Original <br />Contour 4.14.2; Highwall Elimination 4.14.1(2)(f); Steep Slopes 4.14.2, 4.27; Handling of Acid and Toxic <br />Materials 4.14.3; Stabilization of Rills and Gullies 4.14.6: <br />Mud pits at Slurry holes #2 & #3 have backfilled and g raded. Surface was not visible due to approximatel y 3 1/2 <br />inches of snow. The operator has placed buckets over the open slurry holes. The slurry line has not been <br />completed yet to the slurry holes. <br /> <br />EXCESS SPOIL and DEVELOPMENT WASTE – Rule 4.09 Plac ement; Drainage Co ntrol; Surface <br />Stabilization: <br />DWDA: The operator is waiting for final approval of TR60 to expand the DWDA to the west. Current operation s <br />at the DWDA remain within the currently approved footprint. The expiration of the public comment period is <br />scheduled for the close of business on 2/24/2012. Ditch D12 on the North side of the DWDA need to be better <br />defined. Drainage along this ditch still reports to culvert C13. DWDA configuration will be graded to gentler <br />slopes once TR60 approva l is final. <br /> <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, <br />4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water <br />Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Mo nitoring 4.05.13; Drainage – Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; <br />Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />Ditches throughout the mine site are clear of debris, with the exception of a few small items spilled in ditch D5. <br />This material was c leaned up d u ring the inspection. <br /> <br />Culverts throughout the site are clean and in good condition. Round river rock has been placed as armoring in the <br />sumps at the inlets of the culverts under the RDA access road. The operator needs to monitor this rounded <br />material to assure that is does not wash into the culverts. Angular rock is effective for armoring, round rock rolls <br />and tends to get washed downslope. <br /> <br />The operator continues to install a waterline paralleling the Purgatoire River. All disturbance ass ociated with the <br />waterline activity is confined to south of berms protecting the river as shown on Map 13. <br /> <br />The SAE located east of Pond 7 is functioning well. Silt fence is pulling off stak es and needs to be restapled. <br /> <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLANCE: <br />The operator is maintaining culverts and ditches in accordance with the mine plan. NOV -CV -2011 -008 is <br />scheduled to be terminated after the public notice time frame for TR60 expires at the close of business on