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PERMIT#: M-1996-049 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ECS <br /> INSPECTION DATE: September 11, 2018 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> This was a monitoring inspection of the Maryland Creek Ranch 112c permit conducted by Eric Scott of DRMS. <br /> This site is a 216 acre active 112c permit located approximately 4 miles north of Silverthorne on the west side <br /> of Hwy 9. The inspection was triggered by a complaint received by DRMS on August 20, 2018 alleging off-site <br /> impacts to an adjacent jurisdictional wetland and irrigated hayfield as a result of dewatering activity being <br /> conducted by the operator in the active mining phase. The complaint and supporting documents as submitted <br /> are now part of the public record and may be viewed through the Division's website using the "imaged <br /> documents" link. <br /> After receiving the complaint, and reviewing the approved mining plan, DRMS contacted the operator on the <br /> morning of August 30, 2018 to notify them that dewatering/dry mining activity was not a part of the approved <br /> mining plan, and to discontinue dewatering pumping immediately. DRMS received a follow up e-mail later <br /> that day from John O'Hara, general manager at the site, confirming that the dewatering pumps were shut off <br /> as of 2:00pm August 30, 2018. <br /> DRMS was accompanied on the follow-up inspection by operator representative John O'Hara. This site is <br /> divided into 5 primary areas. These are described below starting at the north end of the permit and moving <br /> south. <br /> The north end of the site is largely reclaimed to rangeland with several small unlined lakes. There are also <br /> large sediment settling ponds currently in use in this area. <br /> South of the settling pond is the "process area" of the site. This area is surrounded by large vegetated earth <br /> berms on the south and east sides as required by the county. The site offices, washing and sorting plants, <br /> concrete plant, asphalt recycling plant, and shop are all located in this "process area". <br /> South of the process area is an un-mined area in the middle of the permit that is still being utilized as a <br /> ranch/grazing area. This area may be mined in the future as the active mining area moves north. <br /> South of the un-mined ranch area is the active mining are of the site. Material is being mined from this area <br /> and conveyed to the process area by belt for washing and sorting. Mining in this area was being conducted <br /> with a dredge during the last DRMS monitoring inspection in July 2014, however, according to information <br /> provided to DRMS, for the last two years the active mining pit/area has been dewatered and "dry-mined" <br /> using end loaders. This dewatering of the active pit allegedly resulted in the off-site impacts to the property <br /> immediately to the east (downgradient) of the site as reported by the complainant. As previously stated, <br /> dewatering has been halted at the site since August 30, 2018, and water levels in the active pit have been <br /> rising since that time. In time, approximately a month according to the operator, the pit will refill to the static <br /> water level and any hydrologic impacts should be resolved. As long as dewatering does not resume at the site, <br /> DRMS considers the issue resolved at this time. <br /> At the south end of the site is the previously mined area consisting of an un-lined open lake and surrounding <br /> area that is currently undergoing reclamation. <br /> No issues other than the ones identified on the first page of this report were noted. <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br />