Laserfiche WebLink
PERMIT#:M-2005-032 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS:ERR <br /> INSPECTION DATE: September 16,2014 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> The Division of Reclamation,Mining and Safety(Division)conducted an inspection of the Sprague Scraper Service Pit, <br /> Permit File No. M-2005-032. The mine is located approximately 17.5 miles northeast of Otis, Colorado. Elliott Russell,of <br /> the Division,inspected the site while Jeffery Sprague accompanied it. The site is an active 110c operation with 9.9 <br /> permitted acres and the approved post-mining land use is cropland.This inspection was carried out as a part of the <br /> Division's normal monitoring program. <br /> At 11:30,the Division met Mr. Sprague at the mine site entrance located '/4 mile north of CR 55,on CR ZZ. At the time of <br /> the inspection it was hot,the weather was clear, and the ground was dry.The mine site identification sign was observed at <br /> the site entrance, and was in compliance with Rule 3.1.12(1). The permit boundary was marked with metal fence posts. <br /> There was one front-end loader on site. <br /> The site is located on the inside of a meander of Rock Creek,an ephemeral channel; at the time of the inspection this <br /> creek was not flowing,but the site did have some standing water from recent rain events. The site consisted of two mining <br /> faces with a haul road ramp between them. The southern mining area appeared to have recently been mined while the <br /> northern mining area was inactive due to the standing water.The pit was approximately 15 feet deep. Topsoil was <br /> currently being stripped ahead of the active mining area and was being piled in the southeast portion of the site. Topsoil <br /> has been piled in a"horse-shoe"fashion around the north,west, and south sides of the pit. The older sections of the <br /> topsoil pile were vegetated and stable;Mr. Sprague stated he would seed the newer topsoil pile section as soon as they <br /> finished stripping. <br /> After reviewing the permit file and comparing the proposed mining plan map to recent Google Earth imagery of the site, <br /> the Division has a concern regarding the access road. It appears the original road,discussed in the permit application,has <br /> been abandoned and a new trail(farther east)has been constructed to access the site. This was likely created as mining <br /> progressed to the east. The Operator needs to be aware that any mine-related disturbances created outside of the permit <br /> boundary could be considered a violation of C.R.S. 34-32.5-116(4)(i)for failure to protect areas outside of the affected <br /> land from slides or damages occurring during the mining operation. Please inform the Division,with a simple letter,that <br /> you will commit to not creating any new access roads and will fully reclaim the current and inactive roads when mining is <br /> complete.The Division will include the cost to reclaim the two trails in the cost estimate review below. <br /> During the inspection,the Division also observed an overhead power line which runs northwest-southeast and crosses <br /> over the permit near the northeast permit boundary corner.After further review of the permit file,there is not a structure <br /> agreement on file with this power line;this will be cited as a problem requiring corrective action(please see page 1 of this <br /> report for more information). Rule 6.3.12 states where the mining operation will adversely affect the stability of any <br /> significant,valuable and permanent man-made structure located within two hundred(200) feet of the affected land,the <br /> Applicant may either: <br /> a. provide a notarized agreement between the Applicant and the person(s)having an interest in the structure,that the <br /> Applicant is to provide compensation for any damage to the structure; or <br /> b. where such an agreement cannot be reached,the Applicant shall provide an appropriate engineering evaluation <br /> that demonstrates that such structure shall not be damaged by activities occurring at the mining operation; or <br /> c. where such structure is a utility,the Applicant may supply a notarized letter,on utility letterhead, from the <br /> owner(s)of the utility that the mining and reclamation activities,as proposed,will have"no negative effect" on <br /> their utility. <br /> The reclamation cost estimate was last calculated in the summer of 2005 when the permit was applied for. In accordance <br /> with Rule 4.2.1(2),the Division has reviewed the estimated cost to reclaim the site and found that the current bond <br /> of$9,500.00 is an inadequate amount.The Division calculated the cost to reclaim the proposed affected disturbance <br /> of 9.9 acres to be$33,000.00.Attached for the Operator review, is a copy of the reclamation cost summary. Within 15 <br /> days of this report,the Division will issue a Surety Increase(SI)revision;please contact the Division prior to January 7, <br /> 2014 to discuss any questions regarding the cost estimate. When the SI is issued,the Operator will then have 60 days to <br /> submit the additional bonding of$23,500.00. <br /> Photographs taken during the inspection are attached. <br /> Page 2 of 6 <br />