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PERMIT #: M -1974 -086 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br />INSPECTION DATE: January 27, 2015 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />The inspection was conducted by Michael Cunningham and Tim Cazier of the Division of Reclamation, Mining <br />and Safety (Division). Jeff Keller, M.L. Richardson and Mark Martin of Asphalt Paving Company were also <br />present for the inspection. The Ralston Quarry operates under a Construction Materials Regular (112) <br />Operation Reclamation Permit. The site is located 0.5 miles west of Arvada and sits on the west side of State <br />Highway 93 in Jefferson County. The site is permitted for 271.61 acres and the post- mining land use is <br />rangeland. <br />The Division received an Amendment Application to the above referenced permit on November 13, 2014 and <br />the application was filed for review on November 26, 2014. The Operator is seeking to add an additional post - <br />mining land use of developed water resource to the already approved post- mining land use of rangeland. The <br />inspection was conducted in response to the Amendment Applicant and the purpose of the inspection was to <br />meet with the Operator on site to discuss the proposed permit revision and to ensure that there were no <br />additional adequacy concerns which hadn't been identified through the review of the application. <br />The public notice of the Amendment Application was posted at the site entrance as required by Rule <br />1.6.2(1)(b). In addition, the permit sign was posted at the site entrance and the permit boundary was clearly <br />delineated as required by Rule 3.1.12. The site was not active at the time of the inspection; typically <br />maintenance of equipment and plant facilities occurs during the winter months. The processing facilities are <br />located in the southwest corner of the permit area and include equipment for crushing and screening as well <br />as an asphalt batch plant. The southwest portion of the mine site also contains the truck scale, office trailers, <br />control room for the plants, product stockpiles, fuel tanks and equipment storage. The Division observed a <br />parcel of land immediately west of the processing facilities which contained mining equipment. According to <br />the Operator, this parcel shares a common ownership with the mine site. The Operator also stated this parcel <br />has a different zoning designation, than that of the mine site. The Operator should take care to ensure that <br />this parcel is not used in conjunction with the Ralston Quarry. All affected land must be included within the <br />permit boundary. Affected lands include private ways, roads; work, parking storage or waste discharge areas; <br />and areas in which structures, facilities, equipment, machines, tools or other materials or property which <br />result from or are used in such operations are situated. The Division will work with the Operator to clarify the <br />use of this parcel during the review of the above referenced Amendment Application. <br />The Division proceeded to inspect the eastern side of the mine site where the quarry is located. The basalt is <br />covered by 2 -10 feet of overburden. The overburden is screened for larger rocks which are used in the <br />construction materials operation. The fines from the screening process are stockpiled at the southeast corner <br />of the operation to be used as a growth medium during final reclamation of the site. The pit where mining is <br />occurring is located north of the fines stockpile area. The basalt is blasted in placed and then trucked to the <br />processing area. Blasting has created a series of benches along the western pit wall. The Operator drills the <br />holes and the loading of the holes and blasting is conducted by a licensed contractor. All blasting events are <br />monitored with seismographs and the Operator routinely monitors the pit walls for loose boulders or tension <br />cracks. <br />The Division observed standing water in the southern portion of the pit. According to the Operator, the water <br />is captured in the pit from precipitation events. The Operator also informed the Division that the water is <br />sometimes used for dust control at the site. The Division will ensure that the site is in compliance with all <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />