2011-12-06_INSPECTION - C1981033 (2)

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November 28, 2011 C -1981 -033 /Bear Mine JJD Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4 Number of Com plete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 Page 3 of 5 Maintenance4.03.1(5) and (6)/4.03.2(5) and (6) Reclamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): The entrance road for the mine site was in good condition. The cable guard was up and the asphalt pavement was not in need of any repair. There was a little debris from the adjacent property owner that was on the hillside next to the road but the road was not blocked by the debris. RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: The backfilling and grading work at the reclaimed fan site, the access road leading up the hillside to the fan site and the east half of the reclaimed road leading fro m the fan site to the west portal area appeared to be stable. The revegetation efforts in these areas also appeared to have good results. Additional reclamation work is needed on the flat facilities area. The revegetation cover needs to be improved and th e cheat grass and tamarisk needs to be dealt with appropriately. REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 Vegetative Cover; Timing: The revegetation cover on the reclaimed fan area and the road leading to the fan area appeared to be moderate to good. However, not all of the reclaimed road from the fan area to the west side portal area had sufficient cover. The east half of this road had good cover but the west half had only a poor to moderate cover of vegetation. The west side backfilled and graded portal area also had a poor to moderate cover of vegetation due to the slope stability problems in that area. Most of the flat facilities area had a fair vegetative cover but the location of the former mine office was bare of any vegetation. There was tamarisk in the area w here the hillside spring origin is located, as well as in the hillside spring water treatment pond and where the treatment pond discharges near the river. Cheat grass is very common on the flat facilities area. SLIDES and DAMAGE - Rule 4.12: The natura l slide outside of and immediately adjacent to the west end of the permit boundary continues to show movement. The slide may be causing the stability problems at the backfilled west side portal area. The backfilled portal area has new signs of cracking and the small hole that appeared a couple of months earlier at the base of the cliff has increased in size a little. SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: The only facility structure remaining after reclamation is the bridge over the river. The bridge was passab le but some of the top boards on the east end of the bridge have become loose. SIGNS AND MARKERS – Rule 4.02: At the top of the hill next to the highway, the mine identification sign was up on its post. The required information was on the sign. The “rec ords location” sign was also up on its post in the same location. Vegetation has grown up in front of the two signs and is beginning to block the view of the signs. The vegetation should be removed or cut back.