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PERMIT #: M- 1988 -044 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: TOD <br />INSPECTION DATE: August 12, 2014 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was conducted in response to a request for an Acreage Release (AR) that the Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) received on July 3, 2014. This inspection was conducted by TC Wait <br />and Tyler O'Donnell of DMRS. Schmidt Construction Company, The Operator, was represented by their <br />consultant, Mr. Mark Heifner with, Southwestern Ecological Services. The Colorado State Land Board, the <br />Landowner, was represented by Mr. Phil Courtney. <br />The Coal Creek Resources Pit is located approximately 8 miles southeast of Aurora, Colorado. The Coal Creek <br />Resources Pit is permitted as a sand pit. The current permit area was 2632.08 acres. The approved post- mining <br />land use is Rangeland. <br />Acreage Release number 6 (AR -06) proposes the release of 1917.08 acres, of which 28 acres had been mined <br />and reclaimed. The remaining acreage had never been mined. <br />The Inspection began by driving the around the majority of the 1917.08 -acres that the Operator is requesting be <br />released. The 1917.08 acres consists of a mined and reclaimed portion and another portion that was never <br />mined. The majority of the 1917.08 acres is an un -mined portion which is approximately 1892.08 acres. No <br />mining disturbance was observed on the portion of land making up the 1892.08 acres. <br />Following the inspection of the 1892.08 -acres of undisturbed land, DRMS inspected the reclaimed mining area, <br />which was approximately 28 acres. The reclaimed portion was graded and revegetated. The Operator has <br />successfully backfilled and graded slopes to 3H:1 V or flatter, creating a stable land surface. The mix of grasses, <br />forbs, trees and shrubs on the site appears to support the approved post- mining land use of rangeland. Based on <br />visual estimate of the amount of standing vegetation, observed during this inspection, live vegetative cover on <br />the site during the growing season can be expected to be more than 35 %. The mix of vegetation on the site can <br />be expected to provide self - generating forage for livestock and wildlife. Vegetation within the reclaimed area <br />was at least as well established as that on the surrounding area. <br />DRMS sent out notices regarding the AR -06 to the owners of record of the affected land, the Arapahoe County <br />Commissioners and to the West Arapahoe Conservation District on July 8, 2014 as required by Construction <br />Materials Rule 4.17.2. DRMS did not receive any written comments or objections to the release request. <br />Based on the conditions observed at the site during the inspection, it appears that the Operator has complied <br />with the requirements of the Act, Rules, and the approved reclamation plan. The request for a partial acreage <br />release will be approved, notice of DRMS's decision regarding the release from further reclamation <br />responsibility will be sent under separate cover. <br />Inspection Contact Address <br />Scott Davis <br />Schmidt Construction Company <br />1101 Topeka Way <br />Castle Rock, CO 80104 <br />CC: Tom Kaldenbach, DRMS <br />TC Wait, DRMS <br />Phil Courtney, Colorado State Land Board <br />Mark Heifner, Southwestern Ecological Services <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />