Laserfiche WebLink
PERMIT #: M-1994-093 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: TOD <br />INSPECTION DATE: June 2, 2015 <br />On January 24, 2006, the Division released the Operator of reclamation liability for 101.34 -acres of land. The <br />101.34 -acres of land is composed of the entire area submerged when the reservoir is full. Thus all of the land <br />from the water's edge and up is within the permit boundary. On December 1, 2005 the Operator requested a <br />financial warranty reduction. On May 19, 2006, the Division denied the request for a financial warranty <br />reduction. <br />Backfilling and Grading_ <br />The slopes of the reservoir were graded to 31-1: IV or flatter around the majority of the reservoir. All slopes <br />appeared to be structurally stable. Along the western portion of the reservoir there was erosion damage from the <br />fall 2013 flood (photo 5). All slopes will need to be repaired and graded to 3H:1 V or flatter prior to the release <br />of the permit. <br />Financial Warranty: <br />The current amount of financial warranty the Operator has on deposit with the State is $744,000. <br />The reclamation cost estimate for this pit was updated with this inspection. It was determined that the current <br />financial warranty amount is adequate. <br />Hydrologic Balance: <br />The pit is located just east of the South Platte River. There is a slurry wall installed around the site, creating a <br />water storage reservoir. The mined out pit was full of water, it appears that the City has begun to use the mined <br />out cell as a water storage reservoir. There appeared to be no significant impacts to the prevailing hydrologic <br />balance. <br />Reclamation Success: <br />The Operator has successfully backfilled and graded slopes to 3H:1 V or flatter, creating a stable land surface. <br />The entire site has been seed, vegetation throughout much of the site has establish well. There were portions of <br />the site where the desired revegetation is relatively sparse. The Operator shall consider re -seeding portions of the <br />permitted site where the desired vegetation is sparse. To complete final reclamation the Operator will have to <br />repair erosion and control noxious weeds throughout the site. <br />Reve etg ation: <br />The entire site appeared to have been seeded a few years ago. The desired vegetation is beginning to establish <br />well throughout the majority of the permitted mine site. There were annual weeds scattered throughout the site. <br />The revegetated portion of the affected lands had a variety of noxious weeds scattered throughout. During the <br />inspection, the Division observed the following noxious weeds: tamarisk, bineweed, cheatgrass and a variety of <br />thistles. This will be cited as a problem for failure to implement weed control methods for state listed noxious <br />weed species within the permitted area, and to reduce the spread of weeds to nearby areas as required by Rule <br />3.1.10(6) of the Construction Rules. <br />Erosion/Sedimentation: <br />A portion of the interior western slope of the reservoir was damaged during the fall 2013 flood (photo 5). The <br />damaged to the western bank of the reservoir is approximately 300 feet long. The damage to the slope occurred <br />when the South Platte River overtopped its banks during the fall 2013 flood. The slope was protected by riprap, <br />prior to flood. The riprap partially failed during the flood, allowing the pit slopes underneath the riprap to be <br />eroded. Even though portions of the riprap failed during the flood, the Division believes that the riprap protected <br />the slope from a much greater failure. All slopes will need to be repaired and graded to 3H:1 V or flatter prior to <br />the release of the permit. <br />Signs and Markers: <br />Page 3 of 7 <br />