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PERMIT #: M -1974 -092 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br />INSPECTION DATE: October 3, 2013 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />The inspection was conducted by Michael Cunningham of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br />Safety (Division). Doug Dowling of Dorn Ready Mix Corp. was also present for the inspection. The <br />Barlow Pit is located in Morgan County, approximately 3 miles east of Fort Morgan, Colorado. The site <br />is permitted for 40 acres and the post- mining land use is wildlife habitat. The Barlow Pit operates <br />under a 112 Construction Materials Reclamation Permit. The commodity of interest is sand and gravel <br />which is mined using a floating suction dredge. <br />The Operator notified the Division on September 30, 2013 (via telephone) that the Barlow Pit had been <br />impacted by flooding of the South Platte River. According to Mr. Dowling, the flood water had <br />breached the eastern pit wall. The purpose of the inspection was to assess flooding impacts and <br />provide recommendations for making repairs at the Barlow Pit. <br />The flooding of the South Platte River, in the vicinity of the pit, occurred from approximately <br />September 14th - 16th; during which time the flood waters inundated the entire mine site. The flood <br />waters washed out portions of the access road, which enters the site from Barlow Rd. on the west end. <br />The Operator has repaired the access road with material from the mine site. There is a visual berm on <br />the south side of the gravel pit that is approximately 8 -10 feet high. During the flood, water flowed <br />around the berm; the berm appeared to be intact and was largely unaffected by the flood. As the flood <br />waters flowed over the pit, the east bank of the pit was breached. A section of land approximately 75 ft <br />x 25 ft was washed away at the east end of the pit. At the time of the inspection, the Division observed <br />water flowing out of the pit and through the breach. The water was being discharged into a seep ditch <br />that runs along the south and east sides of the pit. The water flowing from the pit was groundwater; no <br />surface inflow into the pit was observed. The Division estimates that approximately 500 cubic yards of <br />fill material would be required to repair the breach. <br />The Division and the Operator discussed the possibility of not repairing the breach and allowing <br />groundwater to flow from the site into the adjacent seep ditch. In order to leave the site in its current <br />condition, the Operator would need to revise or obtain permits from the following agencies: <br />1. A technical revision to the Mining and Reclamation Plan would need to be filed with the Division. <br />2. The Augmentation Plan would need to be revised with the Office of the State Engineer to account <br />for the depletions associated with the water flowing from the site. <br />3. A discharge permit would need to be obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health and <br />Environment. <br />The Division recommends that the Operator repair the breach and return the site back to pre -flood <br />conditions; repairing the breach would not require any additional permitting by the Operator. The <br />Division requests that the Operator provide notification within 10 working days (from the date of this <br />report) of how, or if, the breach will be repaired. Following the repair of the breach, the Operator shall <br />provide the Division with photographic documentation which demonstrates that groundwater is no <br />longer being discharged from the site. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />