2018-11-29_INSPECTION - M1983119

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1 PERMIT#:M-1983-119 , INSPECTOR'S INITIALS:AME INSPECTION DATE: October 10,2018 OBSERVATIONS This was a normal monitoring inspection of the Chivington Grazing site (Permit No. M-1983-119) conducted by Amy Eschberger of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety(Division). Mr. Jack Howard represented the operator during the inspection. The site is located approximately 7.5 miles northwest of Chivington, Colorado in Kiowa County. Access to the site is from the west off Co Rd 49. Photos 1-10 taken during the inspection are included with this report. This is a 110c operation permitted for 9.7 acres to mine sand and gravel for use in county road construction and maintenance(see enclosed mining plan maps). No material processing occurs on site. Mined material is directly hauled off site for use or temporarily stored on the pit floor until needed. Pre-law mining disturbance exists just south and west of the permitted site. Portions of these areas are included in the approved permit area. The operator is not responsible for reclaiming pre-law disturbance located outside the approved permit area. The permit area includes the main access road, and forms a half circular shape north of the road. The approved post-mining land use for the site is rangeland. Reclamation of the site will include grading all disturbed slopes to 3H:1 V or flatter, replacing approximately 6 inches of topsoil on disturbed land, and seeding the land with a native grass seed mixture. The Division approved Technical Revision No. 1 (TR-1) in 2000, which allows the operator to import topsoil for reclamation if needed. A permit sign was posted at the main entrance to the site. The permit boundary was delineated with large rocks and an earthen ditch. The site was not active during the inspection, and appeared to have not been active for some time given the amount of volunteer vegetation covering the site. Mr. Howard informed the Division the material at the site is hard to use as a road base given the number of large rocks present in the material. Therefore, the operator is considering closing operations at this site and beginning final reclamation. Reclamation of the site should be fairly minimal, given that portions of the pit walls already have 3H:1 V or flatter slopes, and much of the site has good vegetative cover consisting of native grasses, forbs, and shrubs. The permit file indicates that approximately 2,000 cubic yards of topsoil was salvaged and stored on site for reclamation. The Division observed a few stockpiles on the pit floor that may be topsoil (difficult to determine due to vegetative cover). The material stockpiles present on the pit floor would need to be used for reclamation or removed from the site. The pit highwalls generally range from 10-20 feet in height. Northern and southeastern portions of the highwall have near vertical slopes and would require grading to 3H:IV. As discussed with Mr. Howard during the inspection, Rule 3.1.3 requires that all reclamation be carried to completion with all reasonable diligence, and each phase of reclamation be completed within five (5) years from the date the operator informs the Division that such phase has commenced. According to recent annual reports submitted by the operator, the site was last active in 2015. Therefore, unless mining activities recommence at the site, the operator should work to complete final reclamation by 2020. On the other hand, if the operation intends to recommence with mining activities at a later date, and therefore does not wish to begin final reclamation at this time, the operator may file a Notice of Temporary Cessation in accordance with Rule 1.13 (see enclosed). This would allow the operation to temporarily cease production of the mining operation for up to five years without being required to complete final reclamation. The operation appears to be following the approved mining plan. No problems were observed. This concludes the report. Page 2 of 8