_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (140)

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Minesite Inspection Narrative Page 2 of 3 A D8N bulldozer was in the Dutch Creek stream channel just upstream from the refuse area traveling upstream, ripping the channel floor. The contamination at Dutch Creek flume was the result of this work as sediment and debris were being washed downstream. Approximately 300 feet of the channel was disturbed before the work was stopped. The equipment operator and Lewis R. Thompson, Environmental Coordinator for the mine indicated they had been told that the company had the appropriate approvals to do this work. In addition John A. Reeves, P.E. who was at the site during this inspection stated that he had checked twice with Diane Delaney and she had told him she had verbal approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology to be in the channel. Steve Rathbun contacted the Army Corps of Engineers by telephone from the town of Redstone and Mitch Rollings after a telephone conversation with Steve Rathbun contacted the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology by telephone from AFO. Representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers and Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology stated that the company had only discussed placing rock along the steam banks, had not discussed ripping the stream channel and should not be in the stream. As a result Mr. Wright and Mr. Rathbun returned to the mine and served Imminent Harm Cessation Order 93-020-190-001 1 of 1 to Mr. Thompson requiring the bulldozer to stop work and get out of the stream channel. Upon receipt of the Cessation Order Mr. Thompson had the dozer operator remove the equipment from the stream and the Cessation Order was terminated effective 11 :55AM July 23, 1993. Water samples were collected 100 feet below the confluence of Dutch Creek and Coal Creek, 50 feet upstream from the confluence on Coal Creek, 25 feet above the Dutch Creek flume and 25 feet upstream from the disturbance on Dutch Creek to assess impacts of the work. Samples were taken to Assaigai Analytical Laboratory for testing but results are not yet available. As a result of this work approximately 1200 feet of Dutch Creek was heavily polluted. Quality of both Coal Creek and the Crystal River was impacted with approximately 4 miles of Coal Creek polluted from the Dutch Creek confluence to the confluence with the Crystal River and the Crystal River approximately 1.5 miles downstream from Coal Creek. Approximately 300 yards downstream from the point of confluence with Coal Creek the entire width of the Crystal River was impacted.