2015-03-17_INSPECTION - M2008060

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PERMIT #: M- 2008 -060 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ERR INSPECTION DATE: January 6, 2015 OBSERVATIONS The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division/DRMS) conducted an inspection of the sand and gravel operation known as CLG Farms, LLC (Permit File No. M- 2008 -060), a Construction Material Limited Impact 110c Operation Reclamation Permit with 8.66 permitted acres and an approved post mining land use of Rangeland. The mine is located approximately 5.5 mile southwest of Akron, Colorado. Elliott Russell, with the Division, inspected the site. Chester Gebauer, representing the Operator, accompanied the inspection. This inspection was carried out as a part of the Division's normal monitoring program. At 12:00, the Division met Mr. Gebauer at the mine site entrance, located 1 mile south of CR 37, on the west side of CR FF. At the time of the inspection the temperature was cool, the sky was clear, and the ground was frozen. There was up to 8 inches of snow covering the ground throughout the site. The mine site identification sign was observed at the entrance to the site and was in compliance with Rule 3.1.12(1). The permit boundary had been delineated by fences along the three sides of the original application and by fence posts along the eastern boundary (added through AM -01 in 2012). The site was not currently being mined at the time of the inspection and there was no equipment on the site. The site consisted of a single excavated area, approximately 2 acres in size and 20 -25 feet deep, on the inside of a slight meander of the ephemeral channel known as Surveyor Creek. The pit contained near vertical highwalls and a small access ramp located along the southern edge of the pit. Some backfilling had occurred near the southeast corner of the pit. The Operator was concerned that the single strand of caution tape and temporary posts were not enough to prevent someone from falling into the pit area. The Division recommends using some overburden to create a small berm around the crest of the pit; this may help prevent any future accidents. A large topsoil stockpile was located along the western boundary. Three other separate stockpiles were observed between the topsoil pile and the pit; these included overburden, road base material, and concrete gravel. Mr. Gebauer stated that he anticipates that the pit will not be advanced anymore because the overburden to product ratio was too great. That future mining will clean up the remaining material in the pit and reclamation will commence with the cut /fill of the highwalls and backfilling of the overburden. Mr. Gebauer stated that he wants to pursue obtaining either another 11 Oc permit or converting his current permit to a 112c so he can open a new pit farther upstream along Surveyor Creek. Based on the information provided during the inspection, a 11 Oc permit is all that is needed if the size of the area is less than 10 acres; the Division's policy on not allowing adjacent I IOc permits would not apply due to the distance between them (approximately 2000'). The reclamation cost estimate was last calculated during the permit amendment application process in 2012. In accordance with Rule 4.2.1(2), the Division has reviewed the estimated cost to reclaim the site and found that the current bond of $26,500.00 is adequate for the approved reclamation activities needed at the site in its current condition. Please be aware that the bond calculation has been updated with current equipment costs for the maximum size of disturbance allowed at the site (8.66 acres) and the Division has estimated the new cost to be $28,000.00. Since the size of the current disturbance (based off a recent Google Earth aerial image) is slightly smaller than the maximum allowed disturbance the Division will not pursue a Surety Increase at this time. Page 2 of 5