2016-10-27_INSPECTION - M2013054

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PERMIT#:M-2013-054 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ACY INSPECTION DATE: October 4,2016 OBSERVATIONS This inspection was conducted as part of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety normal monitoring program. The Cotton Creek Pit is a 110c sand and gravel operation that consists of 9.9 acres with a max disturbance of 5 acres. Ken Skoglund represented the operator and accompanied Amy Yeldell of the Division on the inspection. The site is located in Saguache County approximately ten mile southeast of Villa Grove, Colorado and is accessed from Road CC. This is the first formal inspection since the permit was issued in 2014.The site was inspected on August 14, 2014 by IMP in order to develop a reclamation plan for Permit No. M-2001-081 which was revoked. No follow up was conducted by IMP since the site was re-permitted to Boyce Land & Cattle Co., LLC and reclamation would be covered under Permit No. M-2013-054. The mine identification sign and affected area boundary markers are in place and in compliance with Rule 3.1.12.The entrance off of CC Road is gated and well-marked with a mine sign.The permit boundary is partially fenced and the remainder is marked with stakes. The site was inactive at the time of the inspection but recent activity was evident. No permanent structures are erected. No equipment was observed on site. No fuel is stored.A small amount of debris still remains. It is neatly stacked in one spot out of the way of mining. The pit has been excavated to a depth of approximately 10-15 ft.To date no ground water has been exposed. It is unclear how much deep mining may occur before ground water is exposed. If the operator does expose ground water, they shall backfill to at least 2" above the water or obtain the necessary permit/water rights before moving forward. It is noted that the Cotton Creek runs just south of the permit boundary. Water was observed flowing in the creek at the time of the inspection despite being late fall. Also a large wetland/riparian area is located just west, adjacent to the site. A pond has been created from excess irrigation water being impounded and is not related to the mining activities. Satellite imagery makes this pond look like disturbances related to mining which it is not.The operator is encouraged to regularly monitor the creek and the pond to avoid accidental flooding. Approximately 10,000 cy of processed material is stockpiled throughout the site. Of which approximately half is stored outside of the pit excavation to the south and will need flattened. Approximately 1 Y2- 2 ac is compacted from roads and various stockpiles and will need to be ripped upon final reclamation. The main access road is to remain post reclamation. All slopes throughout the pit are sloped to 3:1 or less and will require very minor finish work prior to topsoil application.Topsoil is stored in berms around the site. These berms help act as stormwater features to prevent run on from entering the pit as well. Max push distance to any disturbance is 350 ft. though the average is much less. Large amounts of Russian thistle and kochia were observed throughout the site. Given the time of year it is too late in the season to effectively treat the weeds and therefore it is not cited as a problem at this time.The operator is highly encouraged to more aggressively manage all noxious weed species in the future to avoid potential future enforcement actions and delay of reclamation success.The operator will likely benefit from Page 2 of 7