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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Almond Avenue Inspection Report_FinalAlmond Avenue Mine (CA Mine ID# 91‐04‐0018)   2014 SMARA Mine Inspection Report         Prepared by:  Butte County Development Services Department  7 County Center Drive  Oroville, California 95965  November 6, 2014       1    2014 SMARA Mine Inspection  Almond Avenue Mine  CA ID# 91‐04‐0018  Butte County, California      TABLE OF CONTENTS    Section  Description        Page No.    1.0 Mine Description       2  2.0 Background        2  3.0 Reclamation Objective     3  4.0 Observations        5  5.0 Reclamation Area       6  6.0 Financial Assurance       6  7.0 Violations / Corrective Measures     6      List of Figures    Figure 1  Site Location Map  Figure 2  Site Layout Map      List of Attachments    Attachment A  2014 MRRC‐1 Surface Mining Inspection Report  Attachment B  November 18, 2014 ‐ FACE Lead Agency Review Letter   Attachment C   Annotated Site Photographs                             2    1.0 MINE DESCRIPTION  The 44‐acre sand and gravel mine is located at 1288 Almond Avenue, ¾ mile east from the Larkin Road, and  3 ½ miles northeast from the City of Gridley.  The mine site is located approximately 800‐feet west of the  Feather River, which is the source of deposited dredger tailings that are subject to the existing mining  operation.  Historic dredger tailings are located off‐site, to the north and east of the mine.  Orchards and  other agricultural land uses are located to the west and south.  The primary access to the mine is Almond  Avenue, which has several farm houses situated along the road.  The nearest residence to the mine is  located approximately .10 of a mile to the west.   The mine consists of historic dredger tailings deposited at the site by floating dredgers along Feather River.   Tailings at the site were stacked up to approximately 15 feet in height with side angles approaching 45  degrees.  One large pond and several smaller ponds were created in between the deposited tailings.  The  large pond area is presently under separate ownership of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), with  the permitted mine surrounding the DWR pond under the ownership of Butte County.  With the presence  of ponds, riparian vegetation is established along the pond edges.  Existing vegetation consists primarily of  cottonwoods, arroyo willows, blackberries, and a few valley oaks.    Mining operations consist of extraction of the existing dredger tailings, which would be performed in six  phases in three designated areas.  Phase 1 through 3 of operations would begin within the northerly  portion of the property, and would ultimately move towards the south along the eastern side of the  property.  Upon the conclusion of Phases 2 and 3, Pond 1 and 2 within Area A would be created and  reclamation would be performed.  Phase 4 of operations would begin on the northerly portion of the  property and move in the southerly direction along the western side of the property.  Upon completion of  Phase 4, Pond 3 would be created in Area B.  Phases 5 and 6 would continue working towards the south,  and would ultimately create Pond 5, Pond 6, and Upland Area 1.  Upon the completion of Phase 6,  reclamation would be initiated in Area B, followed by reclamation of Area C.    All extracted material would be processed by a portable crusher brought to the site at the extraction area.   Processed materials would be stockpiled on‐site for eventual export.  Clays and silts recovered through  extraction and processing activities would be segregated from marketable aggregates and stockpiled for  use in reclamation.  Mining and processing activities would typically occur from mid‐April to mid‐ November.  In total, it’s anticipated that 1,000,000 tons of gravel would be extracted and exported from  the mine, with reclamation anticipated to be complete by 2049.   2.0 BACKGROUND  A chronology of pertinent events and actions:  1970 Butte County obtained the Almond Avenue Mine property from the California  Department of Water Resources.  Since the acquiring the property, the Butte  County Public Works Department intermittently mined material from the site for  various road construction and maintenance projects.    It’s noted that sometime  in the mid 70’s, a portable rock crusher was brought onto the site.  However,  during the 80’s and 90’s, processing of rock occurred by the use of screens.  December 14, 1999 Butte County Board of Supervisors approved the Almond Avenue Mine  Reclamation Plan.  No Mining Permit was issued as the operation was considered a  vested operation.  June 26, 2000 Mine operations are placed in ‘Idle’ status by the operator, Butte County, and a 5‐ year term Interim Management Plan is approved for the mine.  July 11, 2000 Butte County Board of Supervisors approved a Pledge of Revenue as a financial  assurance to cover the costs of reclamation of the mine.  3    June 1, 2005 A 5‐year extension of the existing Interim Management Plan is approved for the  mine.  February 13, 2008 Butte County approves a lease of the mine to a private contractor, Granite  Construction Company.  April 2008 Mine operations are reactivated.   July 31, 2013 An Interim Management Plan for the Almond Avenue Mine was certified by Butte  County.  The IMP anticipated that the mine would be idle through July 2018.  3.0 RECLAMATION OBJECTIVE  As ponds are created during mine operations, 30‐feet wide benches would be formed along the perimeter  of each new pond.  The benches would be elevated 1 foot above the areas high water table.  Inner edges of  the formed benches would slope towards the new ponds at a 3:1 angle.  Outer edges of the formed  benches would slope at a 3:1 angle towards the outer perimeter of the permitted mining area, and towards  the 100‐foot contour elevation level adjacent to the existing ponds.  After benches are created, subsoil  harvested from the mining area, and other growth media imported to the site, would be re‐distributed  evenly over the proposed revegetation areas.  Finished benches and the designated upland areas would be  revegetated with a mixture of native tree and shrub species for an end use consisting of open  space/wildlife habitat.        1. General Information  a) Permitted Mineral Product(s):  Gravel  b) Production Amount (Annual/Gross): 20,000 tons/annual (100,000 tons/gross)  c) End Date of Operations:    December 14, 2049  d) Permit End Date:    N/A   e) End Use:     Open Space/Wildlife Habitat  2. Boundaries  a) Property Boundary:    ~52.97 acres  b) Permit Boundary:    N/A  c) Reclamation Plan Boundary:  44 acres  d) Setbacks:  10 feet from eastern property line.  100 feet from western property line.  3.  Grading  Cut slopes will be formed during planned excavations of the existing dredger tailings.  Final cut slopes  would be formed around the new ponds, along the eastern and western property line buffers, and at  the existing 100‐foot contour level around existing ponds.  All finished slopes will not exceed a 3:1  angle.  4. Erosion Control  Erosion and sediment control methods will be used during all phases of operation and reclamation to  minimize erosion of soils and sediments.  Erosion control methods include, but are not limited to, the  use of berms, silt fences, sediment ponds, revegetation, and hay bales.  Each phase of operation will  include the construction of a sediment retention basin.  The sediment retention basin and any other  erosion control method will be designed to handle runoff from not less than the 20 year/1 hour  intensity storm event.      4    5.   Ponds  Each phase of operation will include the construction of a sediment retention basin.  The sediment  retention basin will be designed to handle runoff from not less than the 20 year/1 hour intensity storm  event.      6.   Stream & Wetland Protection  Existing wetland areas on the site will be avoided during mining operations.  Extraction of materials will  cease at the existing 100‐foot contour level around perimeter of the ponds.   7.   Sensitive Wildlife & Plant Protection  No rare, threatened or endangered species, as listed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife  or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Species of Special Concern, were identified on the site.  Existing  wetland habitat on the site will be avoided.  Reclamation would create additional wetland and riparian  habitat, which could ultimately attract wildlife to the site.  8.   Soil/Overburden Stockpile Management  Topsoil     Minimal topsoil is available at the site.  Any suitable topsoil at the site is located within the wetland and  riparian areas, and will not be disturbed by mining activities.  Any available subsoil will be harvested  through the extraction and processing of aggregates, which will be stockpiled for future redistribution  as a revegetation growth media.  Due to the limited amount of suitable growth media available at the  site (not sufficient to complete revegetation requirements), an additional 10,000 cubic yards of ‘fill’  material will be imported to site for revegetation efforts of riparian areas.  Subsoil and imported  stockpiles will be clearly identified, and will be planted with a vegetative cover or by an equally  effective measure to protect against wind and water erosion and to discourage weeds.  No specific  location for subsoil and imported stockpiles are mapped in the reclamation plan.  Overburden  Minimal overburden stockpiles are anticipated with mining activities.  Any overburden stockpiles  created would be situated in a manner to facilitate reclamation, and would be segregated from growth  media stockpiles.  No specific location for overburden stockpiles are mapped in the reclamation plan.   Appropriate erosion control methods would be used to minimize to erosion of overburden stockpiles.  Topsoil Application  Stockpiled growth media will be re‐distributed evenly along the 30‐feet wide benches created along the  edges of the new ponds and to the upland areas.  Growth media would likely be applied by the use of  D‐8 tractors and Front‐end loaders.  The reclamation plan does not specify the depth of growth media  re‐distribution or whether additional amendments will be applied to the growth media.             9.   Revegetation  Test Plots   Test plots are required to be conducted simultaneously with mining activities to determine the most  appropriate planting methods to ensure successful implementation of the revegetation plan.  Species Mix/Density/Coverage    Plant Type Density Cover  Cottonwood 1 / 400 sq. ft. 60%  Black willow 1 / 100 sq. ft. 40%  Valley Oak 1 / 600 sq. ft. 60%  5    Alder 1 / 200 sq. ft. 40%  Int. Live Oak 1 / 600 sq. ft. 40%  Sycamore 1 / 800 sq. ft. 60%  Fig 1 / 800 sq. ft. 40%  Arroyo Willow 1 / 200 sq. ft. 40%  Redbud 1 / 300 sq. ft. 40%  Black Walnut 1 / 800 sq. ft. 40%  California Grape 1 / 300 sq. ft. 40%  California Blackberry 1 / 300 sq. ft. 40%         Species Richness   Three species per 100 square feet.  Protection   Screens or other protection measures will be used around plantings, if threatened by herbivores.   Grazing will not be allowed on reclaimed areas.   Success Monitoring  The Butte County Public Works Department will maintain revegetated areas and monitor sites on an  annual basis until revegetation standards are met, provided that, during the last two years there has  been no human intervention, including for example, irrigation, fertilization, or weeding.  Invasive Species Control  Invasive species will be monitored during reclamation of the site, and will be managed through manual  or herbicide removal.  10.  Structures  No permanent buildings or structures are anticipated to be used during mining operations.  The  reclamation plan requires that all buildings, structures, and equipment to be dismantled and removed  from the site, prior to final mine closure.  11.  Equipment  Equipment will be transported to and from the site during extraction operations.  There are no  equipment or material storage areas designated in the reclamation plan.  4.0 OBSERVATIONS  Mining operations were idle during inspection.  Operations were last active during 2011, at which point  sufficient materials were stockpiled within the Upland Area #2 portion of the mine for eventual export.  An  Interim Management Plan was submitted to the County on July 2, 2013.  The Interim Management Plan  was certified as complete and submitted to the Department of Conservation for review on July 31th.  No  comments from the DOC were provided.     Currently Phase #2 of the Plan of Operations is complete.  Working side slopes are approximately 2:1, with  no signs of significant erosion or stability issues.  Any erosion at the site appears to have been generated  from the stockpiled materials.  Erosion appears to be contained on‐site, with no signs of sediments entering  into the pond area.     Minimal topsoil is available at the site.  Subsoil stockpiles are located within the northern portion of the  mine, which can be identified by the presence of minimal vegetative growth.  No identification signs were  present with these stockpiles, and it’s recommended that operator take measures to ensure these  stockpiles are clearly distinguishable from other material stockpiles.    6    The only equipment or structures located at the site is the scales that are located near the entrance.  The  entrance to the site is gated and locked.  Berms have been placed along the perimeter of the mine site  along Almond Avenue.  However, trespassers are still able to enter the site, as is evident with the presence  of ATV tracks.  Pond levels on the DWR property were lower than preceding years.  The lower water have revealed the  presence of some trash and an old boat.  It is possible that a blue plastic drum and corrugated steel panels  on the banks of the pond were from the mining operation.  Though, the mine site does not currently have  any of those types of equipment located on it.  Nevertheless, it was recommended that the operators clear  the materials out due to the minimal effort required.    Overall, the mine site is clean and organized.  No violations or corrective measures are recommended at  this time.  However, as stated above, subsoil stockpiles should be clearly identifiable and mining‐related  trash in the pond should be removed.    5.0 RECLAMATION AREA  No reclamation of the site has begun.  6.0 FINANCIAL ASSURANCE  A Financial Assurance Cost Estimate was prepared for the mine operation, and subsequently submitted to  the Office of Mine Reclamation (OMR) for review on November 18, 2014.  The estimate is currently  pending review with OMR, with the 45‐day review period to end on January 2, 2015.  The estimate  provided third‐party reclamation costs of the existing disturbances of the mine site, which is approximately  11.5 acres.  According to the estimate, the total reclamation liability at the site is $90,095, which comes to  be $7,834 for each acre of disturbance.      The County currently has a surety bond (No. 8205‐56‐57) posted as the financial assurance for the mine.   The financial assurance amount is $88,437, and was approved by the County on October 3, 2014.     7.0 VIOLATIONS / CORRECTIVE MEASURES  No violations or corrective measure are noted.     7      Figure 1 – Site Location Map  8      Figure 2 – Site Layout Map  State of California DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION OFFICE OF MINE RECLAMATION MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 1 of 5 (Rev. 07/13) SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT (See reverse side of each form page for completion instructions) I. Mine Name (As Shown on Approved Reclamation Plan) Inspection Date: CA MINE ID# 91- II. Mine Operator Telephone ( ) Onsite Contact Person Telephone ( ) Mailing Address City State ZIP Code E-mail Address (optional) III. Designated Agent Telephone ( ) Mailing Address City State ZIP Code E-mail Address (optional) IV. SMARA Lead Agency Name (City, County, BCDC, or SMGB) Inspector Telephone ( ) Title Organization Mailing Address City State ZIP Code E-mail Address (optional) V. Does the operation have: P NR No Yes A Permit to Mine Permit # - Start and Expiration Dates Vested Right to Mine Year of Lead Agency determination A Reclamation Plan RP# Date Approved Reclamation Plan Amendment RP Amendment # (as applies) Date Approved or Status of Amendment Has the Operator filed a Mining Operation Annual Report (Form MRRC-2) this Year? Check One: Yes No Year of Most Recent Filed Annual Report: VI. Is this Operation on Federal Land? Check One: If "Yes,” Provide One or Both of the Federal Mine Land Identification Numbers Below: Yes No California Mining Claim Number (CAMC#): Latitude/Longitude at Mine Entrance (Decimal Degrees): U.S. Forest Service or BLM Identification Number (Plan of Operations #) : Status of Plan of Operations (Current/Expired/In Process): DISTRIBUTION: Lead Agency sends copies of Inspection notice & completed MRRC-1 to operator, operator’s designated agent, BLM or USFS (if required) & retains original. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT Form MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 1 (Rev. 07/13) This report is intended to comply with the requirements of California’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA – Public Resources Code Sections §§ 2710 et seq., and the associated California Code of Regulations found in Title 14, division 2, beginning at § 3500, hereinafter respectively “PRC” or “CCR”) and specifically PRC § 2774(b) and CCR § 3504.5 for operations located on private land and/or partly or solely on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands (Title 43, parts 3500, 3600, and 3800 of the Code of Federal Regulations). A Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Interior, BLM; U.S. Department of Agriculture, USFS; the State of California, Department of Conservation; and the State Mining and Geology Board (SMGB), discusses implementation of SMARA on Federal lands in California that are under the jurisdiction of the BLM and/or the USFS. As required by PRC § 2774(b) and CCR § 3504.5(g), Lead Agencies shall file an Inspection Notice that includes a statement regarding compliance with SMARA, a copy of this Surface Mining Inspection Report (MRRC-1) and any other supporting documentation with the Department within 30 days of completion of the inspection. The Lead Agency shall also forward a copy of the Inspection Notice, MRRC-1, and any supporting documentation to the operator. BLOCK I: Enter the name of the Mining Operation, the date of the inspection, and the California Mine ID number. BLOCK II: Enter the name of the Mine Operator, mailing address, phone number, name, and email address (optional) of the person to serve as the onsite contact. BLOCK III: Enter the name, mailing address, phone number, and email (optional) of the Designated Agent who, under PRC § 2772(c)(1) and 2207(a)(1), will serve as a contact for any follow-up correspondence or discussions regarding the inspection or noted violations. BLOCK IV: For "Lead Agency," enter the name of the certified SMARA Lead Agency that is conducting this inspection. Acceptable entries include the name of the city, county, Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), or State Mining and Geology Board (SMGB). For "Organization," enter the name of the agency, firm or other organization that employs the inspector. BLOCK V: Check the appropriate boxes. P NR, No, Yes Pending (on appeal or awaiting approval by Lead Agency) Not required for this operation at the time this inspection was completed No Yes, supply information Note: Where appropriate, to aid in determining when the lead agency recognized that the operation has vested mining rights, inspectors are advised to review older agency correspondence, minutes of lead agency hearings, including agendas and staff reports associated with approvals of any kind related to the mining operation. BLOCK VI: Indicate if the operation is on federal Land; if operation is on federal land, include a California Mining Claim Number and/or a BLM/USFS Identification Number and Plan of Operations Number, if applicable. Give the status of the BLM/USFS Plan of Operations, as indicated. Give the latitude and longitude at the mine entrance in decimal degrees. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS: One copy of the inspection notice and this completed Inspection Report (all pages) shall be given to the Mine Operator and the operator’s designated agent by the lead agency (PRC Section 7374(b). The Lead Agency must retain the original copy of this Inspection Report and submit one copy of this Inspection Report, along with an original inspection report notice (PRC Subsection 2774(b)), within 30-days of the completion of the inspection, to: Department of Conservation Office of Mine Reclamation 801 K St MS 09-06 Sacramento, CA 95814-3529 If any part of the operation inspected is on BLM or USFS land, one copy of this Inspection Report should be forwarded to the appropriate BLM or USFS office. State of California DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION OFFICE OF MINE RECLAMATION MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 2 of 5 (Rev. 07/13) SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT VII. Financial Assurance Inspection Date: CA MINE ID#: 91- Type of Financial Assurance Mechanism(s) Financial Assurance Mechanism Number(s) Amount of Mechanism Date of Expiration Date of Lead Agency Approval of Mechanism Total Amount of Mechanism(s) Financial Assurance Mechanism Pending Review by Lead Agency? If yes, provide date submitted/explanation and amount of pending mechanism: Has there been a change of operator since last inspection? If yes provide the date of notice. Yes No Date of Change: If yes, has the new operator posted a Financial Assurance Mechanism? Yes No If not, describe status of new operators Financial Assurance Mechanism: Does new operator’s Notice of Change include a statement of responsibility for reclamation? Yes No Posted a Financial Assurance Mechanism? Yes No If No, Has The New Operator Been Advised Of Financial Assurance Obligations? Yes No Date and Amount of Most Recent Approved Financial Assurance Cost Estimate: Date: Amount: Financial Assurance Cost Estimate Pending Review with Lead Agency? Date Submitted/Explanation/Amount of pending estimate: Financial Assurance Cost Estimate Appealed by Operator? Date Submitted to State Mining and Geology Board or Lead Agency for Appeal/Explanation: Other? DISTRIBUTION: Lead Agency sends copies of Inspection notice & completed MRRC-1 to operator, operator’s designated agent, BLM or USFS (if required) & retains original. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT Form MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 2 (Rev. 07/13) BLOCK VII: Type of Financial Assurance Mechanism(s): Fill in the type of mechanism(s) that are on file. PRC § 3803 and SMGB Financial Assurance Guideline number 10 describe Surety Bonds, Trust Funds, or Irrevocable Letters of Credit as acceptable financial assurance mechanisms for non-governmental entity operators. For surface mining operations owned and operated by state and local government entities, Surety Bonds, Trust Funds, Irrevocable Letters of Credit, Pledges of Revenue, and Budget Set Aside are acceptable financial assurance mechanisms. State the Financial Assurance Mechanism(s) document number(s). State the dollar amount of each Financial Assurance Mechanism(s) currently on file. State the date of expiration of the Financial Assurance Mechanism(s) currently on file. State the date of approval for the most recent lead agency approved Financial Assurance Mechanism(s) on file. State the total dollar amount of mechanisms held for reclamation. Indicate if any Financial Assurance Mechanisms are pending review by the lead agency and the date and amount of submittal to the lead agency. Indicate if there has been a change of operator of record since the last inspection and, if so, note the date the change occurred and whether the new operator has signed any document acknowledging reclamation responsibility under the approved reclamation plan and if the new operator has posted a Financial Assurance Mechanism. If a replacement Financial Assurance Mechanism has not been posted, indicate the status of the new operator’s replacement Financial Assurance Mechanism. Per PRC § 2773.1(c) and Guideline number 19 of the SMGB’s Financial Assurance Guidelines, when operatorship is transferred, “the original financial assurance must remain in effect until the lead agency has approved, following department review, the replacement assurances provided by the successor operator.” The Financial Assurance amount must be adjusted and approved annually to account for new lands disturbed by surface mining operations and lands to be disturbed in coming year, inflation, and reclamation of lands accomplished in accordance with the approved Reclamation Plan (PRC § 2773.1(a)(3) and SMGB Financial Assurance Guideline #16). In order to determine what adjustments, if any, are appropriate to the Financial Assurance Mechanism amount, each mine operator must submit annually a revision of the written Financial Assurance Cost Estimate to the Lead Agency (PRC § 3804(c)). Provide the date of the operator’s most recent revision of the Financial Assurance Cost Estimate to the Lead Agency and where appropriate, provide a status of the pending Financial Assurance Cost Estimate. Provide the date and amount of the most recently approved Financial Assurance Cost Estimate. Also indicate if the Financial Assurance Cost Estimate is under appeal to the lead agency or whether it has been appealed to State Mining and Geology Board as described in PRC § 2770(e). Use the Financial Assurance “Other” and “Explanation” blocks to provide any other pertinent information regarding the status of Financial Assurance(s). If the operation does not have a sufficient Financial Assurance Cost Estimate and/or Financial Assurance Mechanism, explain in detail. State of California DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION OFFICE OF MINE RECLAMATION MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 3 of 5 (Rev. 07/13) SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT VIII. Non-SMARA facility operations conditions solely of local concern (e.g. hours of operation) do not need to be noted here. See Instructions for Block VIII on reverse side of page. [Use separate sheet(s) where necessary. Refer to item numbers below] CA MINE ID # 91- Potential Reclamation Plan Requirements: List Reclamation Plan Requirements (Recommended to be filled out prior to field inspection) Note Site Conditions and Compliance Issues (Note additional comments on Page 5 as necessary) VN? 1) General Information a) Permitted Mineral Product(s) b) Approved Production Amount (Annual/Gross) c) End Date of Operations Per RP d) Permit end date e) End Use 2) Boundaries a) Property Boundary b) Permit Boundary c) Rec. Plan Boundary (RPB) d) Setbacks 3) Slopes – Grading a) Fill Slopes – Note Condition of: i) Slopes – Working (max/current) ii) Slopes – Reclaimed iii) Compaction b) Cut Slopes – Note Condition of: i) Slopes – Working (max./current) ii) Slopes – Reclaimed 4) Erosion Control a) BMPs b) Grading c) Vegetation 5) Ponds a) Design – Function b) Capacity (area/depth/volume) c) Maintenance 6) Stream & Wetland Protection a) Buffers (distance to channel) b) Berms (distance/length/height) c) Best Management Practices d) Drainage e) Grading & Slopes f) Stockpiles g) Stream Diversions 7) Sensitive Wildlife & Plant Protection a) List Species b) Protection Measures DISTRIBUTION: Lead Agency sends copies of Inspection notice & completed MRRC-1 to operator, operator’s designated agent, BLM or USFS (if required) & retains original. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT Form MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 3 and 4 (Rev. 07/13) BLOCK VIII: INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH DATA COLUMN: Potential Reclamation Plan Requirements (Column 1): Under CCR § 3504.5(f), “Inspections may include, but shall not be limited to the following: the operation’s horizontal and vertical dimensions, volumes of materials stored on the site; slope angles of stock piles, waste piles and quarry walls; potential geological hazards; equipment and other facilities; samples of materials; photographic or other electronic images of the operation; any measurements or observations deemed necessary by the inspector or the lead agency to ensure the operation is in compliance with Public Resources Code Chapter 9.” Column 1 provides a list of items that may be included in the approved reclamation plan, either expressly or by reference as described in PRC § 2772(d), which may include conditions of approval, other permit requirements and supplementary documents, including environmental documents, prepared for the project pursuant to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000). It is not expected that all reclamation plans will include each item of Section VIII, or be limited to the items listed. Items in Column 1 that are not operative requirements in the reclamation plan may not need to be addressed by the inspection. Operative reclamation plan requirements not listed in Items 1 through 12 may be listed in Item 13, under “Other Reclamation Plan Requirements.” Reclamation Plan Requirements (Column 2): Prior to field inspection, it is recommended that the inspector review the approved reclamation plan and any amendments, as well as any other documents included by reference, including conditions of approval, other permit requirements and supplementary documents, such as environmental documents prepared for the project pursuant to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) that specifically relate to reclamation of the mine site. The most recently approved Financial Assurance Cost Estimate and any pending or ongoing enforcement actions should also be reviewed. Conditions of approval that relate to facility operations solely of local concern, such as hours of operation, noise, and dust control are not subject to the inspection. Column 2 is intended to provide the inspector a place to match any items noted in Column 1 with those items included in the approved reclamation plan either expressly or by reference as described in PRC § 2772(d), which may include conditions of approval, other permit requirements and supplementary documents, including environmental documents prepared for the project pursuant to Division 13 (commencing with § 21000). Also note any Interim Management Plan (IMP) requirements where the mine is subject to an IMP pursuant to PRC § 2770(h). Indicate the source document for the reclamation plan requirements at the end of the entry in parenthesis; i.e. (COA) (POO) (EIR) (WDR) (SWPPP), etc. Conditions of approval that relate to facility operations solely of local concern, such as hours of operation, noise, and dust control should not be included in Column 2. If items listed in Column 1 of Section VIII of the form are not included in the reclamation plan or other documents included by reference, write not applicable or “NA” in Column 2. Specific reclamation requirements may not apply to an operation at the time of inspection, but they are important to be aware of to ensure current activity at the site will not prohibit reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. A copy of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 and 1993 SMGB regulations may be obtained at http://www.conservation.ca.gov/omr/lawsandregulations/Pages/SMARA.aspx. Site Conditions and Compliance Issues (Column 3): Describe current site conditions and compliance issues noted for both operating and reclaimed surfaces that pertain to the reclaimed condition of the mining site. Block IX is provided for additional space to describe site conditions and/or compliance issues. Attach additional sheets as necessary. Evaluations of slope stability and engineered compaction should be prepared by qualified professionals only. PRC § 2774(b)) states “The lead agency may cause an inspection to be conducted by a state licensed geologist, state licensed civil engineer, state licensed landscape architect, or state licensed forester, who is experienced in land reclamation and who has not been employed by a surface mining operation within the jurisdiction of the lead agency in any capacity during the previous 12 months.” VN? (Column 4): Use this box to indicate if violations were noted for any of the specific items under the corresponding item group heading (e.g., Boundaries, Slopes-Grading, etc.) during field inspection of the site. Enter number of violations in the box. State of California DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION OFFICE OF MINE RECLAMATION MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 4 of 5 (Rev. 07/13) SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT VIII. Non-SMARA facility operations conditions solely of local concern (e.g. hours of operation) do not need to be noted here. See Instructions for Block VIII on reverse side of page. [Use separate sheet(s) where necessary. Refer to item numbers below] CA MINE ID # 91- Potential Reclamation Plan Requirements: List Reclamation Plan Requirements (Recommended to be filled out prior to field inspection) Note Site Conditions and Compliance Issues (Note additional comments on Page 5 as necessary) VN? 8) Soil/Overburden Stockpile Management a) Topsoil i) Location ii) Slope Stability iii) BMPs b) Overburden i) Location ii) Slope Stability iii) BMPs c) Topsoil Application i) Amendments ii) Depth iii) Moisture iv) Application Methods 9) Revegetation a) Test Plots b) Species Mix c) Density d) Percent Cover e) Species Richness f) Protection g) Success Monitoring h) Invasive Species Control 10) Structures 11) Equipment 12) Closure of Adits 13) Other Reclamation Plan Requirements DISTRIBUTION: Lead Agency sends copies of Inspection notice & completed MRRC-1 to operator, operator’s designated agent, BLM or USFS (if required) & retains original. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SURFACE MINING INSPECTION REPORT Form MRRC-1 (4/97) Page 5 (Rev. 05/13) BLOCK IX Inspectors may use the large open block for comments to describe violations, corresponding corrective actions, or preventative measure(s) suggested by the inspector to address noted violations or avoid potential violations, and to explain any limitations on the inspection conducted. The inspector can also use this space to describe the status of any pending or current enforcement actions. Separate violations that are the subject of existing enforcement actions from violations observed during the current inspection. Enter California Mine ID Number and Date of Inspection. Weather Codes: CR = Clear; CL = Cloudy; RN = Rain; SN = Snow; WD = Windy For "Duration of Inspection," indicate the start and end times of the inspection (do not include travel time). SMARA Status Codes (based on annual report and reported production under CCR § 3695, indicate the appropriate status code) I = Idle (Per § 2727.1) NP = Newly Permitted (must be no mining/disturbance) AB = Abandoned (Per § 2770(h)(6)) NOP-NC = Not in operation, reclamation not completed NOP-C = Not in operation, reclamation completed If idle, indicate either the date operation became idle as defined by PRC Section 2727.1, the date an IMP was approved, or the status of any pending IMP. Status of Reclamation Codes: RN = Reclamation not begun P = Post reclamation monitoring R = Reclamation in progress RC = Reclamation complete Enter approximate acreage under reclamation (the number of acres actively being reclaimed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan). Enter approximate acreage determined to be reclaimed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan by Lead Agency. Enter approximate total disturbed acreage. This includes all acreage disturbed by the surface mining operation, as defined by PRC § 2729: “’Mined Lands’ includes the surface, subsurface, and ground water of an area in which surface mining operations will be, are being, or have been conducted, including private ways and roads appurtenant to any such area, land excavations, workings, mining waste, and areas in which structures, facilities, equipment, machines, tools or other materials or property which result from, or are used in, surface mining operations are located.” This should include acreage under reclamation that has not been determined to be reclaimed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan by the Lead Agency. Enter the total number of acres within or adjacent to the disturbance area of the operation disturbed pre-SMARA (disturbance before January 1, 1976, that has not had mining related disturbance after January 1, 1976). Enter the disturbed acreage identified in the most recent Financial Assurance Cost Estimate (i.e., the disturbed acreage that was used to calculate the most recent Financial Assurance Cost Estimate. Enter the date of the previous lead agency inspection and number of violations noted during that inspection. Attendees: Provide the names and affiliations of parties in attendance at the inspection. BLOCK X: Enter the number of violations noted during the inspection. Sign and date the Inspection Report. If the inspector is a consultant to the lead agency, include the inspector’s certification (PE, PG, CEG, etc.) and license number, if applicable. The lead agency may cause an inspection to be performed by contracting with private consultants, specifically: state licensed geologist, state licensed civil engineer, state licensed landscape architect, or state licensed forester per § 2774(b). No v e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 4 I n s p e c t i o n - A l m o n d A v e n u e P i t ( 9 1 - 0 4 - 0 0 1 8 ) Ph o t o 1 – V i e w e a s t a l o n g n o r t h e r n b o u n d a r y & to w a r d s s c a l e s . P h o t o 2 – S c a l e s p l a t f o r m . Ph o t o 3 – P h a s e 2 A r e a . P h o t o 4 – A gg r e g a t e s t o c k p i l e s i n P h a s e 1 A r e a . No v e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 4 I n s p e c t i o n - A l m o n d A v e n u e P i t ( 9 1 - 0 4 - 0 0 1 8 ) Ph o t o 5 – V i e w n o r t h w e s t a c r o s s D W R p o n d . P h o t o 6 – No r t h w e s t c o r n e r o f D W R p o n d . B a rrel located within pond. Ph o t o 7 – V i e w s o u t h a c r o s s D W R p o n d i n t h e c e n t e r o f m i n e s i t e . P h o t o 8 – P r i m a r y e n t r a n c e t o m i n e s i t e a n d s t a g i n g a r e a . E n t rance gated and be r m e d t o r e s t r i c t a c c e s s .