DRC-2010-003861 - 0901a068801a3162

GREGORY S. BELL
Lieulenanl Governor
DRC-2010-0038
state of Utah
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
MICRAEL R. STVLER
E.xeciuive Direclor
Division of Oil, Ga$ and Mining
JOHN R. BAZA
Division Director
Inspection Report
Minerals Regulatory Program
July 7,2010
Reviewed:
Mine NameiLisbon Valley Mine Permit Number:M/037/0001
Operator Name; Rio Algom Mining LLC Inspection Date:06/21 /2010
Inspector(s): Tom Munson Time: 3.30 pm
Other Participants: Terry Fletcher Mine StatusiActive
Elements of Inspection Evaluated Comment Enforce
1. Permits, Revisions, Transfer, Bonds lEI •
2. Public Safety (shafts, adits, trash, signs, highwalls) • • •
3. Protection of Drainages / Erosion Control • • •
4. Deleterious Material • • •
5. Roads (maintenance, surfacing, dust control, safety) • • •
6. Concurrent Reclamation • • •
7. Backfilling/Grading (trenches, pits, roads, highwalls. • • • shafts, drill holes) • • •
8. Water Impoundments • • •
9. Soils • • •
10. Revegetation •
11. Air Quality • • •
12. Other • • •
Bond Amount: $63.086 Permit fee: $N/A
Purpose of Inspection: Inspection to determine the success of revegtation and thistle radication.
Inspection Summarv:
The majorit>' of the site is a reclaimed uranium mill and tailings pond and is under the regulatory
jurisdiction of the Utah Division of Radiation Control. The Division regulates the sites of the shafts and
the office and shop areas.
Although the Division has previously classified this site as a large mine, and although the permit number
would suggest it is a large mine, the disturbed area being regulated by the Division is less than five acres.
The reclamation surety is in an escrow account that was established through an action by the Board of
Oil. Gas and Mining. An attorney, Mike Malmquist, working for the operator has been preparing to file a
Request for Agency Action where the operator would establish a new bond with the Division to cover
revegetation costs. The Board would theoretically release the money held in the escrow account. Tlie
money in the escrow account was submitted as surety for full reclamation of the shafts, shop, and office.
One area visited was the area of Musk Thistle infestation on the tailings pond. Mr. Flecther stated that
they had hired someone to spray the thistle. Although some plants had suffered the effects ofthe
spraying, it appeared the thistle had been sprayed too early in the year and many new plants had
grown. Mr. Flecther stated that he was going to respray as soon as he could get someone to do so.
The Division does not regulate the tailings ponds. Musk thistle is officially designated as a
noxious weed.
1594 West North Temple, Suite 1210, PO Box 145801, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5801
telephone [phone] • facsimile [phone] • TTY [phone] • www.osm.iitah.s;ov
OIL. GAS ft MINING
•.•<v . -
[nspection Date:
Page 2 of 4
M/03 7/0001
We visited the sites that were rehabed in the fall of 2009 due to previous revegation failures. The access
road from the highway showed good growth with grasses being the predominate vegetation. The
vegetation at the previous office and parking lot area was spotty. The area that showed the least success
was the previous parking lots associated with the office building.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
The existing bond is a board contract and the company would like to change this mechanism so that the
bond can be more easily released. Since the company has made several serious efforts to establish
vegetation, the Division detrmines that the revegetation work has been satisfactorily completed within
practical limits and the bond can be released.
Inspector's Signature
TM:vs
cc: Billy Ray, Rio Algom
Division of Radiation Control
O:>iM037-SanJuan\M0370001-LisbonMine_RioAlgom\inspections\in5p-06212010.doc
1594 West North Temple, Suite 1210. PO Box 145801, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5801
telephone [phone] • facsimile [phone] • TTY [phone] • wwn.oew.utah.sov
o
s
= £2
—•
?
'r.
4
-t •
'r,
-t
'•Z
—• * o -1-T.
-f
—
o
c cc
o -J
ri Ull
fa
c
s
fa
c
s
• o
CL rr-j
Tc cc rn
"r. t=
No
O cc
We
s
ho
n
e
-r a. •^ 'r.
CJ
Ci
o
Q -_ ^ o
.S o o
.a £ s
I
OO oo
f-
O O
oo
o
O
" 00
c— m
C —
^ OO
S 2