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PERMIT #: M-2012-016 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ACY <br />INSPECTION DATE: November 10, 2016 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was conducted as part of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) <br />normal monitoring program. The Nolte Pit #1 is a Special Operations 111c permitted site that includes a total <br />of 22.34 permitted acres. This site Is located approximately three quarters of a mile west of Parachute, <br />Colorado in Garfield County and is accessed from Highway 6. Craig and Cindy Kohles represented Puckett <br />Land Company and accompanied Amy Yeldell of the Division on the inspection. <br />Mining was completed in the fall of 2012. The 2013 annual report the declared the site to be in final <br />reclamation. To date several reclamation attempts have been made. In August of 2016 under TR -2, revisions <br />were made to the reclamation plan. <br />The mine identification sign and affected area boundary markers are in place and in compliance 3.1.12. A sign <br />is posted at the natural gas pad entrance from Highway 6. The permit boundary is clearly delineated by wire <br />fence and T -posts. <br />The natural gas pad is located within the mining permit boundary. As part of TR -2 the operator worked with <br />Caerus Oil & Gas LLC to define the gas pad's foot print. Recently the pipeline that goes through the south <br />boundary of the mining permit has been reworked which has resulted in extra traffic on the gas pad. The <br />Division is unclear if the gas operations are staying within the agreed upon foot print. To date no fences or <br />well-defined monuments have been constructed to delineate this boundary. A few small wooden stakes were <br />observed but it is unclear if these are related to delineating the gas pad foot print. The Division highly <br />recommends that this distinction be made to avoid discrepancies in the future. If areas have been utilized <br />outside of the gas pad footprint this area will likely need to be ripped as heavy traffic will lead to compaction. <br />No fuel or structures related to mining remain in place. <br />According to Mr. Kohles some surface roughening and seeding took place after the last spring inspection. <br />Reclamation efforts were limited to those areas flat enough to use a drag implement. The Division observed <br />lines that appeared to be drag marks on the pit floor. Some grass did germinate however not at a high enough <br />density to comply with the approved reclamation plan requirements. <br />Slopes remain unchanged since the last inspection. The pit slopes it look as if that little to no vegetation has <br />increased over the summer. It appears that little erosion maintenance takes place between reclamation <br />efforts. In several areas excessive amounts of erosion and riling was observed. Without adequate vegetation <br />and surface roughening erosion will continue to be a problem. The operator is encouraged to monitor and <br />properly maintain their stormwater BMPs and slopes to avoid potential future violations and/or problems. <br />It was indicated that no additional reclamation work has taken place this fall. It is the operator's responsibility <br />to complete reclamation within 5 years of completing mining actives. Mr. Kohles indicated that later this fall <br />additional work will take place however he was unclear as to what all that will include. The operator is strongly <br />encouraged to utilize all methods identified under TR -2 and reclaimed the entire site. It's also recommended <br />that in the early spring revaluate early reclamation success and determine if additional measures will be <br />needed to ensure growth over the 2017 summer. <br />Page 2 of 9 <br />