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PERMIT #: M- 1987 -019 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: RCO <br />INSPECTION DATE: May 30, 2014 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a routine inspection conducted by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction <br />Materials110c permits. The operator was not present and the site was not active during the inspection. <br />The required permit ID sign was observed posted at the entrance to the permitted area. Permit boundary <br />markers were installed along the permit boundary. The entrance was not gated but there was a locked cable <br />to keep unauthorized vehicles out. It did not keep out cattle, however, and the site had numerous cow -calf <br />pairs in it. Since the site is not in the revegetation stage of reclamation, the livestock present was not a <br />problem. But the operator should be aware that when seeding is performed to re- establish revegetation on <br />the site, animals should be deferred until the vegetation establishment can be verified. <br />There was no equipment and no fuel stored at the site. There were several stockpiles of various materials <br />observed in the pit and up on unmined ground south of the pit, including approx 900 cu yds of washed 3/8" <br />gravel for CDOT, approx 2000 cu yds of pitrun, approx 50 cu yds of cobbles, and approx 2000 cu yds of 3/4" <br />gravel. There is a pile of topsoil on the SE corner of the site, containing approx 1500 -2000 cu yds. It is not <br />clear if this is soil that has been stripped from the site or has been imported from another location. If it has <br />been imported, the operator must ensure that a Notice has been filed with the Division, containing <br />information that conforms with Rule 3.1.5(9). Also, it is not clear if the operator's plan is for the topsoil to be <br />used for reclamation or is to be consumed by mixing it with the processed aggregate and hauled offsite. The <br />operator should ensure that this information is reported to the Division and is included in the approved plan. <br />All slopes have been graded to 3:1 or gentler, but none of the slopes appear to have been topsoiled or seeded. <br />Some of the slopes are currently in their final location, and the operator is encouraged to begin performing <br />some of the final reclamation activities on them, since slopes can take a longer time than other areas. Before <br />commencing reclamation tasks the operator should review the plan. <br />There were many small narrowleaf cottonwoods in the pit, indicating the pit's proximity to the Rio Grande and <br />the shallow depth to groundwater. Water is not exposed in the pit. There were no noxious weeds onsite, but <br />all disturbed areas contain kochia. This is not a problem, but it would be beneficial to begin reducing this plant <br />in the permit before final reclamation activities begin. Undisturbed areas of the permit contain good stands of <br />blue grama. <br />There were no problems noted. For questions related to this report, please contact this inspector at the <br />Division's Durango Field Office: telephone 970 - 247 -5193, or 303 - 866 -3567 ext 8175. <br />All written correspondence should be sent directly to the Division's Denver Office: <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Inspection Contact Address <br />Patrick Sullivan <br />Rio Grande County <br />P.O. Box 46 <br />Monte Vista, CO 81144 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />