2014-03-06_INSPECTION - M2014001

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PERMIT #: M- 2014 -001 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: PSH INSPECTION DATE: February 21, 2014 OBSERVATIONS This was a pre - operational inspection of the Connell Carr Pit conducted by Peter Hays with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division). Mr. Larry Johnson with Connell Resources, Inc. and Mr. Bill Schenderlein with Blue Earth Solutions, LLC were present during the inspection. The 112c construction materials permit application was received by the Division on January 6, 2014. The application was deemed complete on January 21, 2014. The decision due date is April 21, 2014. The Applicant published public notice as required by Rule 1.6.2(d) for four consecutive weeks. The last notice was published on February 21, 2014. The public comment for the application ends on March 6, 2014. The notice sign was observed during the inspection as required by Rule 1.6.2(b). One unidentified structure, a waterline crossing WCR 126 west of WCR 17, was observed during the inspection. Mr. Schenderlein stated he would investigate the water line further. The Division will address the unidentified structure in the Division's pending adequacy review letter. The southwest terrace and southeast corner of the permit area, south of the creek, will not be disturbed by the mining activity at the site. The proposed Connell Carr Pit permit area is currently owned the State Land Board and used for seasonal hunting access. Terry Grazing Association currently leases the land and is in the process of swapping the land for a different section owned by Terry Grazing Association. The land consists of rangeland utilized by the Terry Grazing for cattle and bison operations. The Division will require the Applicant to clarify the land swap process as part of the Division adequacy review process. The site is located in the northeast corner of Weld County Roads 17 and 126. The site contains short grass prairie upland areas and approximately 6,000 feet of Lone Tree Creek, an ephemeral drainage which flows from the northwest to southeast through the site. The creek was flowing during the inspection. The upland rangeland is relatively flat with shallow landform terraces rising to the southwest of Lone Tree Creek and more substantial bluffs climbing to the northeast. The terrace and mining area southwest of the creek consists of swales and erosion gullies which drain to Lone Tree Creek. The proposed permit boundary will encompass approximately 456.0 acres with about 382 acres currently planned for mining. Areas not disturbed by mining may be disturbed by access roads, stockpiles, material processing or backfilling and other reclamation related activities. The remaining area will consist of setbacks and road and utility right -of -ways. Aggregate within the proposed permit area are composed of terrace deposits along the Lone Tree Creek drainage system. The terrace deposits extend from the surface or near - surface to a variable depth of 5 to 25 feet below ground surface. The mining plan includes mining in two phases: the first phase (288 acres) south of Lone Tree Creek and the second phase (94 acres) north of the creek. When Phase 1 is complete, a temporary crossing will be established through the Lone Tree Creek drainage and Phase 2 will be mined from east to west. Groundwater is not expected to be encountered during mining and the deposit will be dry mined. Mining will proceed by first stripping and stockpiling topsoil and overburden. The exposed gravel will then be removed in lifts and transported to the processing facility. Areas will be stripped to accommodate 10 to 14 months of mining at a time. The active mining face will extend no more than 1,000 feet in length. During Page 2 of 6