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PERMIT #: M- 2014 -005 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: RCO <br />INSPECTION DATE: February 25, 2014 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a pre- operation inspection conducted by the Division as part of its review of a new Construction <br />Materials 110c permit application. The operators named on page one were present throughout the <br />inspection. <br />The required application notice was observed posted at the entrance gate to the permitted area. Most of the <br />proposed permit boundary was currently delineated by fencelines, though there are some interior fences that <br />will be removed since they are not needed, and a new fence will be installed along the southern boundary <br />where one does not exist at this time. The proposed permitted area is contiguous with the property parcel, <br />and survey pins were located at all property corners. <br />The site will be accessed via a new roadway to be constructed in the eastern end of the site, on land that has <br />been part of an irrigated field. Use of the former access road to this property has been terminated and has <br />been sold to another owner. The new road location is low and will remain muddy in its present condition; it is <br />not suitable for vehicle traffic. Constructing the new road is essential to allow access the land, for any <br />purpose. The new road corridor is at the lower end of the irrigated field, so placing fill material to build up the <br />roadway will not impede the adjoining landowner's ability to continue to irrigate. <br />The site has not been mined in the past, and presently contains evidence of past agricultural activity. It <br />contains old fences, water well, barns and sheds, farming equipment, and wood and metal debris. There were <br />no contaminants observed, and no noxious weeds. Some of the site surface still contains furrows from past <br />farming, and some of it apparently was used for pasturing animals. The soil depth seemed to vary, with <br />natural cobbles exposed in the SW portion of the site. None of the site will be irrigated or farmed in the future <br />under this permit. The water well will be capped in the short-term, and eventually eliminated as the pit <br />encroaches on it. <br />Adjoining properties include several residential lots, light industrial /commercial, farming, and a permitted <br />gravel pit (M- 1980 -201). There are several man -made structures within 200 feet of the permit boundary, <br />which will be fully documented in application exhibits. Besides these adjoining owners and structures, there is <br />a buried telephone line at the eastern end near the county road, and an overhead electric line along the <br />western boundary. There are no anticipated impacts to adjoining properties or utilities from this operation, <br />since the operator will allow adequate setback distances, and limit the pit depth and slope gradient to provide <br />stability. Topsoil will be stripped and stockpiled along the edges of the site. <br />The neighboring gravel pit has not exposed groundwater, and this proposed pit will not expose groundwater. <br />Vegetation observed on the site varied from pasture grasses in the eastern end, to blue grama and kochia <br />dominating the dry central and western portion. The operator is aware that any surface disturbance will <br />provide an opportunity for weeds, including noxious weeds, to become established. Keys to successfully <br />controlling weeds and establishing desirable vegetation include (1) limiting the amount of disturbed land, (2) <br />topsoil protection, (3) timely reclamation, and (4) frequent weed monitoring and timely treatments. <br />There were no other features observed during this inspection, and all issues related to the 110c permit <br />application will be addressed in the application - related correspondence. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />