2015-09-15_INSPECTION - M1988090

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PERMIT #: M-1988-090 INSPECTOR’S INITIALS: TOD INSPECTION DATE: August 18, 2015 Page 3 of 6 The Deer Trail Pit is located approximately 1.25 miles southeast of Deer Trail, Colorado. The permit was issued in December of 1988 as a 110c permit. In 1996 the permit was converted to a 112c, during the conversion process the permit boundary was expanded to encompass 110 acres. The Deer Trail Pit has an approved maximum allowed disturbed area of 15 acres. The primary commodity mined at the site is sand and gravel. The approved post-mining land use is rangeland. The mine site is surrounded by the following land uses: industrial/commercial, residential, agricultural, and rangeland. On July 24, 2015, the Division sent out notices regarding the release request to the owners of record of the affected land, the Arapahoe County Commissioners and to the Deer Trail Conservation District, as required by Construction Materials Rule 4.17.2. The Division receive one timely comment from the Deer Trail conversation district (enclosed) and one timely objection from Theodore and Jackie Stieghorst (enclosed) landowner. The Stieghorsts expressed several concerns in his correspondence with The Division. The Division has summarized the concerns expressed by the Stieghorsts, please see the following list of the Stieghorsts’ concerns: 1) Ingress and egress 2) Fugitive dust 3) Noise pollution 4) Security issues Prior to the inspection, the Division met with Mr. Stieghorst to discuss the issues detailed in his objection letter. Following the discussion with Mr. Stieghorst, the Division and the Operator, walked portions of the site and conducted a visual examination of the current permit area. Mr. Stieghorst opted not to participate in the official inspection. During the inspection the site was active. Overburden was being hauled off site, to be used as general fill in a construction project. The Operator had improved an existing access point along the western side of the site, going from County Road 213 to the site. The active pit was located in the northwest corner of the site. At the present time it appears that the mining operation has affected approximately 11-12 acres in the northwestern portion of the permitted site. The active pit area daylights to the north. The Mining operation was expanding to the south. Much of the disturbed areas have filled in with native volunteer vegetation and annual weeds, due to the previous ideal conditions. The area of land propose to be released through AR-01 was observed during the inspection. The Division did not observe any affected land or any unreclaimed land within the 50-acre area addressed through AR-01. Small portions of the 50 acres could have been minimally impacted by mining operations years ago, if so the land is stable and has adequate vegetative cover. The 50-acre area being proposed to be released from the permitted site now contains, homes, and other rural residential developments.