2016-03-01_INSPECTION - M1997065

Home Browse Search

PERMIT#: M-1997-065 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC INSPECTION DATE: April 23,2015 OBSERVATIONS The inspection was conducted by Michael Cunningham of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division). Jim Striggow, Justin Hamilton, and Roger Everhart of Stone Wholesale, Inc. were also present for the inspection. The Brownstone Quarry is located approximately 6.5 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. The site is permitted for 61.78 acres and the post-mining land use is rangeland. The Brownstone Quarry operates under a 112 Construction Materials Reclamation Permit and the primary commodity mined is sandstone. Stone Wholesale, Inc. submitted an Amendment Application to the Division on February 24, 2015. The application was filed for review on March 30, 2015 and the current decision date for the application is June 29, 2015. The purpose of the Amendment Application is to increase the affected area from 61.78 acres to 66.18 acres. The primary purpose of the site visit was to inspect the 4.4 acre parcel of land prior to the commencement of mining on this area. The 4.4 acre parcel of land to be added to the affected area is situated to the south of the permitted mine site. The parcel of land is bounded by the site access road to the east and the Larimer County Canal to the west and south. The amended area sits at the bottom of a natural drainage channel and any water flowing through this area will discharge at the south end through a culvert and into the Larimer County Canal. The majority of the area to the north of the amended area is cutoff by the Windsor Reservoir Canal and stormwater runoff reports to the canal. The amended area contains a considerable amount of refuse including; trailers, tires, old vehicles, tools, scrap metal, etc. The Operator has a lease agreement with the owner of the property, Mr. Porter, who is recently deceased. Mr. Striggow informed the Division that he has an option to purchase the property; issues related to the legal right to enter the property for the purpose of mining and reclamation will be dealt with through Division's review process for the Amendment Application. According to Mr. Striggow, the estate of Mr. Porter will remove anything of value from the amended area and any refuse left behind will be removed and disposed of by the Operator. The Operator should be aware the designated post-mining land use for the site is pastureland and all refuse must ultimately be removed from the amended area in order to successfully reclaim the site. If all of the refuse is not ultimately removed from the site, the Division may account for the removal of all refuse through an increase to the required financial warranty. In addition to the refuse, the amended area also contains a small red house which is serviced by overhead electrical and telephone lines. These structures are to be removed prior to the commencement of mining. The Division observed a black plastic pipe extending from the toe of the access road north of the amended area. The pipe was discharging water onto the amended area; the water sheet flowed across the ground surface for a distance of approximately 40 feet before it infiltrated into the ground. The Division did not observe any water leaving the site. According to the Operator, the pipe has been in place for many years and serves to maintain the historic hydrologic balance by discharging water from the Windsor Reservoir Canal when it is flowing. Financial Warranty: The Division currently holds a financial warranty in the amount of$234,500.00. As a part of the technical adequacy review for the Amendment Application, the Division will perform a complete bond calculation to ensure the financial warranty remains adequate to complete reclamation of the Brownstone Quarry. Notice of an increase to the financial warranty will be sent under separate cover. Page 2 of 5