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PERMIT#: M-1980-183 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS:TOD <br /> INSPECTION DATE: September 18,2014 <br /> CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: To be determined during the October 29, 2014 Board hearing. <br /> CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE: To be determined. <br /> INSPECTION TOPIC: Hydrologic Balance and Offsite Impacts. <br /> PROBLEM: Groundwater mounding has caused elevated water levels in a nearby lake outside the permit area. <br /> CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: To be determined based on the outcome of a Board hearing regarding flooding in <br /> the Einspahr pasture. <br /> CORRECTIVE ACTION DUE DATE: To be determined. <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> This inspection was conducted by Tyler O'Donnell and Tom Kaldenbach of the Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety (DRMS). Brannan Sand and Gravel Company, L.L.C. (Brannan), the Operator, was <br /> represented by Louis Bustamante during the inspection. <br /> Pit 29 is located in Adams County approximately 0.75 mile northeast of Henderson, Colorado,just south of E- <br /> 470, and east of the South Platte River. Pit 29 is a 176.24-acre 112 Construction Materials Reclamation Permit. <br /> The approved post-mining land use is developed water resource. <br /> The current inspection was conducted as a follow-up to the DRMS inspection Pit 29 on July 31, 2014. The July <br /> 31 inspection was conducted in response to reported flooding in a pasture next to Pit 29 that is owned by Mr. <br /> Norm Einspahr. During the current inspection, the Einspahr pasture remained flooded despite no recent <br /> significant rainfall having occurred in the area. Groundwater mounding is the suspected cause of the pasture <br /> flooding. The mounding is believed to be caused by a groundwater flow constriction created by the close <br /> proximity of the slurry walls that surround Pit 29 (operated by Brannan) and the nearby Stagecoach Pit <br /> (operated by Albert Frei and Sons). Fine-grained fill at another nearby Frei-operated pit, the Worthing Pit, may <br /> also contribute to the mounding, as mentioned in the DRMS inspection report of August 14, 2014 for the <br /> adjacent Stagecoach Pit. <br /> The August 14 Stagecoach Pit inspection report identified elevated water levels in a nearby lake (Zigan Lake) <br /> as an additional adverse impact caused by the mounding in the area upgradient from Pit 29, Stagecoach Pit, and <br /> Worthing Pit. DRMS cited the Zigan Lake levels as a compliance problem for the Stagecoach Pit, and here <br /> cites it as a compliance problem for Pit 29, as well. Brannan's contribution to flooding in the Einspahr pasture <br /> is scheduled for an enforcement hearing in an upcoming Mined Land Reclamation Board meeting. Given the <br /> common cause of the Einspahr pasture-flooding and the elevated water levels of Zigan Lake, DRMS currently <br /> is waiting until after the Board meeting to evaluate the need for further enforcement action regarding the Zigan <br /> Lake elevated water levels. (Brannan had been notified of the August 14 inspection of Stagecoach Pit and the <br /> related site visit to Zigan Lake, but did not attend.) <br /> During the current inspection of Pit 29, the operator(Brannan)was pumping water from the bottom of the pit in <br /> mining area II (see Figure 1). The de-watering pump was located in the bottom of the pit in the southwest part <br /> of mining area II (see Photo 2). The operator's representative stated that the de-watering pump is used every <br /> Page 2 of 7 <br />