2016-07-08_INSPECTION - M1991147 (2)

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PERMIT#: M-1991-147 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS:TOD INSPECTION DATE:June 17,2016 OBSERVATIONS This normal routine monitoring inspection was conducted by Tyler O'Donnell of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division). Belvedere Stone, LLC (Operator), was represented by William Johannsen during the inspection. The Belvedere Stone Quarry is located in Douglas County approximately I 1 miles due north of Woodland Park, Colorado. The permit was issued in July 1992. The permit was issued over top of a pre-law quarry. The Quarry was being illegally mined until the permit was issued in 1992. The affected land boundary as approved in the permit application is located on top of a patented mining claim located in the middle of the Pike National Forest (See enclosed mine plan map). The primary commodity mined at the quarry is decorative rock. The approved post-mining land use at the quarry is residential. During the inspection, the sky was clear and the ground was dry. The site was not operational during the inspection. The Operator had a grizzly on site for processing material. It appears that the recent mining related disturbance had taken place in the southeastern portion of the site. There was a shallow pit excavated on top of the current mining bench, where large slabs of stone have been recently removed. Based on a conversation the Division had with the operator's representative it appears that the site maybe active a few times a year to quarry rock. Backfilling and Grading_ There was a highwall around the entire northern perimeter of the affected land boundary. The highwall varied in height, there were sections of highwall 5 to 20 feet high. The average height of the highwall was approximately 10 feet high. The highwall was approximately 750 feet long. A lot of waste rock had been cast off the active working face into the drainage to the southwest(photos 4). The slope of the cast off rock was near 2H:1 V. The waste rock cast off the bench was as high as approximately 40 feet in some areas. All slopes appeared to be structurally stable. Financial Warranty: The current amount of financial warranty the Operator has on deposit with the State is $5,000. Based on the observations made during this inspection, the cost to reclaim the site is estimated to be $41,830.83 (see attached reclamation cost estimate). The new required financial warranty will be set at $41,800. resulting in a current deficit of financial warranty on deposit with the State in the amount of$36,800. This deficit in bond amount is cited as a problem and must be corrected by September 6, 2016, by submitting the additional bond amount of $36,800. Hydrologic Balance: There was no evidence of excessive erosion. There appeared to be no significant impacts to the prevailing hydrologic balance. No exposed groundwater was observed. Revegetation: There was some plant growth throughout the current affected areas. The plant growth in the current affected areas appeared to be volunteer vegetation, comprised of native vegetation and annual weeds. There was some plant growth on the stockpiles and a little vegetative growth elsewhere in the active mining area. Musk thistle and common mullein are present within the affected lands. The musk thistle and mullein have begun to establish, given a few growing seasons, the site could become completely infested with noxious weeds. This is a problem for failure to implement weed control methods for a state listed noxious weed species within the permitted area, and to reduce the spread of weeds to nearby areas as required by Section 3.1.10 (6) of the rule. Page 3 of 7