2001-01-29_INSPECTION - M1977493

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MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M- 1977 -493 PAGE: 9 INSPECTION DATE: 9 -26 -00 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ACS is exposed. C -14 has been seeded and has also been planted with tubling aspens. The revegetation effort is showing good initial success but does not yet meet performance standards for release. The bond money dedicated to grading of area C -14 will be released with the approval of SR -03. One small area in C -14 where there is an exposure of black shale at the surface is showing zero germination from the seeding effort. This small area will have to be covered with a suitable plant growth medium and reseeded. The reclamation of the No. 3 Dam face was inspected. This reclamation was completed in 1997 with the installation of an average two foot thick cap of rock and soil borrowed from pits located at the right and left abutment toes of 3 -Dam. Prior to capping, 3 -Dam had been graded to an overall slope of 3.5:1 (slope is approximately 15 -16 degrees based on three readings from an Abney level). The long slope of the dam face was broken by the installation of eight benches limiting slope distances to 200 feet. The dam face capping material was too resistant to be penetrated with a hand held power auger, so cover thickness could not be verified during this inspection. The 3 -Dam reclamation job was a massive reclamation effort and was contracted out by Climax. Since the project was completed under a contract, a discussion was held as to whether or not there was documentation available that would demonstrate that the permit requirements for cover thickness on the dam face had been met. Discussion on page E -7 of the 1989 amendment AM -02 indicates that the tailing dam faces will be covered to a depth of 18 to 36 inches. Climax will research the 3 -Dam reclamation project documents and provide verification of cover depth to the DMG. During the first spring following completion of the 3 -Dam cap, wind blown tailing from the Ten Mile Pond drifted over portions of the capping material. The blowing tailing dust was generated before the tailing were solid enough for safe application of the dust palliative coherex. Since that time, Climax has been experimenting with the use of a shot crete type cement and wood fiber based dust suppressant and the problem has not reoccurred. Ongoing maintenance on the 3 -Dam face includes backfilling of erosion gullies, which was observed and photographed during this inspection, and application of compost mulch as described in the DMG's 8/30/99 inspection report. The dam abutments have been armored with riprap. The dam face and regraded borrow pits have been seeded, the area affected by windblown tailing was reseeded as discussed in the 8/30/99 DMG inspection report, and patchy areas that were skipped during the first drill seeding effort were interseeded. The revegetation effort in this early stage of establishment looks very good, but surety reduction for revegetation is not a component of the SR -03 application The 3 -Dam capping project borrow pits were inspected. The grading and sloping in the pits generally meets or exceeds the sloping objectives for borrow pits of 3:1 as discussed in the approved reclamation plan (permit amendments AM -02 and AM -03, also see DMG inspection report dated 9/4/97). Significant spring development was observed in the slope of the right abutment borrow pit. This seepage was not causing an erosion problem and is not believed to be acidic since no adverse impact to plants contacted by the seepage was observed. This may be a natural seep line intersected by the borrow pit, which is located near the bottom of the former Ten Mile Creek valley. Topsoil replacement, seeding, interseeding, plant germination, and initial stages of vegetation establishment generally meet or exceed requirements of the approved reclamation plan. However, it was observed that an approximately 1 acre area of the right abutment borrow pit was not topsoiled and vegetation establishment in