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PERMIT #: M -1984 -101 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br />INSPECTION DATE: October 23, 2013 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />The inspection was conducted by Michael Cunningham of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(Division). Brian Sack of Hard Rock Paving and Redi -Mix, Inc. was also present for the inspection. The Chaparral <br />Meadows Pit is located approximately 5 miles southeast of Harstel, Colorado. The site is permitted for 66.80 <br />acres and the post- mining land use is general agriculture. <br />The inspection was conducted as part of the Division's regular monitoring program. The site was not active at <br />the time of the inspection; a bison herd was present on site. The permit sign was posted at the site entrance <br />as required by Rule 3.1.12. The boundary markers could not be located during the inspection. This has been <br />cited as a problem and will require corrective action by the Operator; please see the first page of this report <br />for additional information. According to the Annual Reports, the site does not operator more than 180 days <br />per year and the last mining related activity occurred in August of 2012. Rule 1.13.5 requires Operators who <br />temporarily cease production of the mining operation for 180 days or more to file a Notice of Temporary <br />Cessation in writing to the Division. The Notice of Temporary Cessation (application enclosed) shall include the <br />following: <br />a) The date of cessation. <br />b) The reasons for non - production or cessation of the mining operation. <br />c) A plan for resumption of mining. <br />d) The measures to be taken to comply with reclamation requirements and /or other activities related to the <br />performance standards of Section 3.1 while the mine is in Temporary Cessation. <br />f) Demonstration that the existing financial warranty is adequate to cover the reclamation liability. <br />A problem has been cited for failure to place the Chapparral Meadows Pit into Temporary Cessation; please <br />see the first page of this report for additional information. <br />The Chapparral Meadows Pit is being mined in three phases. The Operator has mined Phase 1 and the most <br />recent mining activity occurred in Phase 3. On March 6, 2003, the Division approved a Technical Revision to <br />allow the Operator to mine Phase 3 prior to Phase 2. The Operator is excavating to a depth of approximately 4 <br />feet below the existing grade; the active mining face is at a near vertical grade. Topsoil has been salvaged and <br />stockpiled along the perimeter of the excavation; the topsoil stockpiles are vegetated and did not show any <br />signs of erosion. The Division observed several product stockpiles in Phase 3. The Operator received approval <br />to operate an asphalt batch plant at the site; no equipment related to the asphalt batch plant was present at <br />the time of the inspection. A small stockpile of recycled asphalt was observed in Phase 2; the Operator has <br />notified the Division that this material will be utilized in the future when the asphalt batch plant is operating. <br />The Division currently holds a financial warranty in the amount of $112,000.00. The Division recalculated the <br />required financial warranty amount following an inspection conducted on August 25, 2006. The Division <br />determined that the required financial warranty amount was $155,059.00, or $43,059.00 more than is <br />currently held by the Division. The financial warranty calculation included a cost for removing and disposing of <br />tires which had been observed in the northeast corner of the site. The Division did not observe tires or any <br />other refuse within the permit boundary during this inspection. A small landfill containing tires, appliances and <br />other refuse was observed north of the permit boundary; the trash appears to have been dumped by the <br />landowner. The Division's records show that the increased financial warranty amount of $43,059.00 was never <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />