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PERMIT #: M -1984 -134 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: AME <br />INSPECTION DATE: May 29, 2014 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection of the Randy Shaw Pit (File No. M- 1984 -134) conducted by Amy <br />Eschberger of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division). Mr. Mark Dorenkamp of Prowers <br />County was present for the inspection. The site is located approximately 34 miles southeast of Lamar, Colorado <br />in Prowers County, on land owned by Randy Shaw. <br />Access to the site is by gated entrance off of Co Rd 19. An existing range road runs southwest from Co Rd 19, <br />entering the site from the northeast. A haul road approximately 500 feet long splits off this existing road and <br />enters the north side of the pit. This haul road will be reclaimed to rangeland with the rest of the affected area. <br />At the time of inspection, it was clear and hot, and the ground was dry. A permit sign was posted at the entrance <br />off Co Rd 19 (Photo 1). The affected area is enclosed by an agricultural fence. This is a 112c operation <br />permitted for 1,920 acres which encompasses portions of four sections (13, 23, 24, and 27 in T27S, R45W of <br />the 6th P.M.) along Two Butte Creek. This dry operation consists of mining old alluvial sand and gravel <br />deposits left from flooding of the creek. <br />Current disturbance is limited to an area of approximately 9.9 acres or less in size, which is where this <br />inspection was conducted. This mining area is located on the north bank of Two Butte Creek. The creek was dry <br />during the inspection. Flow in the creek is restricted to runoffs from snowmelt and localized convective events. <br />When the creek does hold water, it flows east/northeast, eventually discharging into the Arkansas River just <br />south of Holly, Colorado. <br />The current disturbed area consists of a large, circular excavation where mining progressed westward (Photos 2- <br />4). No highwalls remain. All slopes in the affected area have been graded to 3H:1 V or flatter. Only a few small <br />mounds of processed material remain along the northern and eastern boundaries of the affected area (Photo 5). <br />No mining equipment was present during the inspection. Mr. Dorenkamp stated that the County has only been <br />hauling off material from stockpiles intermittently for the past several years. A Technical Revision (TR -01) that <br />allowed for intermittent operation of the site was approved on 02/25/2014. <br />Previous mining occurred in this part of the permit area under a 1 l Oc permit (Bernard Nine Pit) of the same <br />permit number. The conversion application (CN -01) making this a 112c operation was approved on 06/05/1997. <br />This previously disturbed area is located in the western portion of the site, and will be reclaimed to rangeland <br />with the rest of the affected area. <br />Native grasses and shrubs have volunteered throughout the site. Mr. Dorenkamp mentioned that the landowner <br />grazes his cattle on this land. Overall, this site appears to be stable, and the affected area appears to be well <br />within the permit boundary. Because only 9.9 of the 1,920 permitted acres are allowed to be affected at any <br />time, the Operator shall notify the Division if the operation is to move into other parts of the permit area. The <br />currently affected acreage would need to be reclaimed before additional acreage is disturbed, unless a Technical <br />Revision requesting more than 9.9 acres to be affected at any time is approved. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />