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PERMIT #: M-1977-393 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br />INSPECTION DATE: August 12, 2015 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />The inspection was conducted by Michael Cunningham of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(Division). Kelly Wasserbach with the City of Boulder was also present for the inspection. The Jenkins Site is <br />located approximately 3 miles south of Superior, Colorado. The site is permitted for 233 acres and the post - <br />mining land use is rangeland. <br />Mining at the Jenkins Site is complete and reclamation of the site is underway. Reclamation efforts are <br />focused on a one acre parcel of land located at the north end of the permit area. The Operator is currently <br />backfilling a previously excavated area with inert backfill material to create the required 3H:1V slopes. The <br />backfill material comes from City of Boulder utility projects as it becomes available. A bald eagle's nest was <br />identified along Coal Creek, immediately south of the backfill area. The site is closed from November through <br />July of each year during the eagle's nesting period. This year's nesting season resulted in the successful <br />hatching of three eaglets. Reclamation of the site is progressing slowly as a result of the eagle's nest. <br />According to the Operator, final reclamation of the site may not be achieved for another 10 years. <br />The area where backfilling is occuring, including the material staging area, accounts for approximately 6 acres. <br />The rest of the 233 acre site has been fully reclaimed. The Operator may pursue an acreage release at anytime <br />for any portions of the mine which have been fully reclaimed. Requests for acreage releases must be <br />submitted in accordance with Construction Materials Rule 4.17. Alternately, the reclaimed acreage may <br />remain a part of the permitted mine site until such time as all reclamation is complete. <br />The Operator utilizes cattle for prescribed grazing; cattle were observed during the inspection. The cattle also <br />aid in the control of noxious weed species. The Division observed diffuse knapweed, field bindweed and <br />canada thistle. A review of the permit file found that a Technical Revision was submitted and approved in 1993 <br />to address diffuse knapweed. The approved Weed Control Plan called for treating the diffuse knapweed with <br />herbicides. The City of Boulder does not utilize herbicide treatment in controlling weeds, but instead prefers <br />to focus on biological, mechanical or cultural treatments. The presence of noxious weeds at the mine has been <br />cited as a problem since the existing Weed Control Plan does not address all of the noxious weed species on <br />site. Additional information regarding the cited problem and the corrective action may be found on the first <br />page of this report. <br />This concluded the inspection. <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />