2016-06-16_INSPECTION - M1977573

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PERMIT #: M-1977-573 INSPECTOR’S INITIALS: TOD INSPECTION DATE: March 14, 2016 Page 2 of 4 OBSERVATIONS This normal routine monitoring inspection was conducted by Tyler O’Donnell of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division). Continental Materials Corporation (Operator), was represented by Andre Laroche and Bill Pope during the inspection. The Pueblo West Pit is located in Pueblo County just west of Pueblo, Colorado. The Pueblo West Pit is a 127.75- acre 112c Construction Materials Reclamation Permit. The primary commodity that was mined at the site was sand and gravel. The 112c Construction Materials Reclamation Permit was issued in March of 1978. The site has had several changes made to the permit to increase the permitted area and then later to reduce the permitted area. The permit area has been reduced to the clay lined reservoir and the immediate surrounding lands. The approved post-mining land use is developed water resource. The mine site was surrounded by the following land uses: Residential, Wildlife habitat and rangeland. No problems or possible violations were observed during the inspection. During the inspection, the sky was clear and the ground was dry. The current Financial Warranty is adequate to complete the remaining reclamation liability. The Site was not active during the inspection. It appears that the mining related disturbance has been partially reclaimed. All former pit slopes have been graded to 3H:1V or flatter, no highwalls were observed. All slopes appeared stable, no significant erosion was observed during the inspection. There were two stockpiles of either topsoil or crusher fines in the bottom of the pit. It appears that topsoil has been spread around the entire affected land above the proposed full pool of the reservoir. It appears that all of the affected lands, above the proposed full pool of the reservoir had been revegetated. Desired vegetation has not begun to establish well on any of the affected lands that were previously seeded. Vegetative cover primarily consisted of annual weeds and a few native volunteer species. There were a few Russian olive trees and a few tamarisk trees scattered around the site. The operator will need to treat and eradicate all noxious weeds. There was a small basin in the southeastern corner of the former pit that collects the seep water. The compacted clay liner passed the State Engineer’s Leak Test and was approved on September 1, 2006. The seep water collected in the basin is pumped out and discharged weekly to biweekly. To date no water has been stored in the reservoir. CONCLUSION The Site is mined out, the Operator is in the process of conducting final reclamation. The approved reclamation plan allowed for three different reclamation options (enclosed). The Division has summarized the three options: 1) Pass the leak test and use the site as a water storage reservoir, 2) pass the leak test, spread topsoil and revegetate the entire pit, and 3) fail leak test and reclaim the site as an exposed groundwater pond. Since the liner has passed the leak test only options 1 and 2 are available. The Operator’s representatives stated that they have had difficulty getting a client to store water in the reservoir or someone to sell the reservoir to. Based on conversations the Division had with the Operator’s representatives it appears that the Operator may reclaim the site using option 2. Inspection Contact Address Andre Laroche Continental Materials Corporation 444 E. Costilla Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Enclosure: Portion of the Approved Reclamation Plan (AM-04) cc: Wally Erickson, DRMS