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PERMIT#:M-1984-008 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS:TCW <br /> INSPECTION DATE:July 14,2014 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> This was a monitoring inspection initiated by a Temporary Cessation request conducted by TC Wait of DRMS; <br /> Mark Klune and Bill Pope were present representing the operator. The site is located north of the Arkansas <br /> River, accessed through a gate off of Townsend Drive from Langdon Lane. The permit area on file is 71.4 acres <br /> with 65.5 acres affected; however,the only 23 acres have been affected by mining activity at this time. The <br /> site was last inspected in February 2012. <br /> At the time of the inspection,the permit sign was in place and the permit boundary was fenced. Portions of <br /> the fence line may need to be repaired to maintain the visible permit boundary,although Mr. Klune indicated <br /> there was a lease to graze cattle on the northern part of the permit area. Two ponds were located in the <br /> western part of the permit boundary. The northern pond is about 300 feet x 440 feet and the southern pond <br /> is about 650 feet x 475 feet with a small area on the south side that has been backfilled and creates a "scallop" <br /> in the shoreline. The ponds were well vegetated with stable slopes. Tamarisk and Russian olive were noted <br /> around the lakes and near the river. Some of these trees' trunks were 4-6 inches in diameter. A weed <br /> management plan should be implemented. This is cited as a problem and will require corrective action. <br /> Mr. Klune indicated that the permit boundary follows the levee/earthen dikes along the northern part of the <br /> ponds and that the field to the north was considered as part of an amendment, but never included in the <br /> permit boundary. <br /> Mr. Klune stated that the site was initially mined by Fountain Sand, owned by CF&I Steel in the 1970s. The site <br /> was sold to Valco in 1984. Mr. Klune stated that no mining occurred by Valco, but the stockpiles were sold off <br /> and some processing fines were used to fill in the south end of the southern pond. Water credit from filling in <br /> an area off-site was given to allow the two ponds to remain open. DRMS files indicate that the permit was <br /> originally a 110, but changed to a 112 in 1984. Four monitoring wells are present on the site and Mr. Klune <br /> stated they are sampled quarterly if not more frequently. <br /> Overburden and topsoil stockpiles are located on the western and southern sides of the southern pond. The <br /> stockpiles do not appear overly eroded, and have some vegetative growth on them. <br /> There were several areas observed in the northern part of the site and the field north of the permit boundary <br /> that had fissures and openings, likely related to the presence of collapsible soils known to exist in the area and <br /> regional water fluctuations. <br /> RECOMMENDATIONS: <br /> 1. A weed management plan should be implemented as soon as possible to control the tamarisk and <br /> Russian olive trees on the site. This is cited as a problem and will require corrective action. <br /> 2. Fence repairs should be made to maintain the permit boundary. <br /> 3. Once mining operations resume following the temporary cessation, bond adequacy should be <br /> evaluated. <br /> Page 2 of 7 <br />