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PERMIT #: M-2004-045 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: SJM <br />INSPECTION DATE: March 27, 2019 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection conducted by the Division to monitor the site condition. The site <br />was not active on the day of the inspection. Mary Grace Garcia and Rick Hardy accompanied me on the <br />inspection. They represent River Island Ranch, who is not the permitted Operator. <br />From looking back at Permit Records ,the property ownership is in a temporary legal tangle. Though the POA <br />is not the permitted operator, they are becoming involved to try to keep the fees and reports submitted, so <br />that the permit remains viable. They can pay the annual fees, but are not authorized to mine or reclaim the <br />site, or request revisions to the permit. After the legal issues are resolved, the POA hopes to be in a position <br />to become the successor operator of the permitted gravel pit. This issue has been ongoing for almost 5 years <br />and is a problem at this time. <br />The required permit ID sign was not observed posted anywhere at the permitted area. Permit boundary <br />markers were observed to be installed at the boundary corners of the permit boundary. A subdivision road <br />bisects the permit area, making the boundary a little difficult to see, but corners were marked. The lack of a <br />permit ID sign is not noted as a problem at this time, but this inspector requested that the POA post a sign, on <br />behalf of the permitted operator. <br />The pit lies to the north of the road, and has not changed significantly since the Division's last inspection. The <br />pit is still approx 8 feet deep, with about 3.3 acres disturbed. The side slopes are 1.5:1 average, which is <br />steeper than the reclamation gradient, but they are stable for now. Across the road on the south side is the <br />topsoil stockpile area, which contains a sufficient amount of topsoil to reclaim the site. The topsoil area is <br />about 0.25 acres in size. The pit has not operated in over a year, and the question of its current "active" status <br />was discussed. The permit should be placed into "temporary cessation" status due to its inactivity, but the <br />POA is not authorized to operate the pit, nor request this revision for the permit. Once the Succession of <br />Operators is complete, the new Operator River Island Ranch can submit changes to the permit, such as the <br />reclamation plan changes or temporary cessation status. <br />There is a $12,000 bond posted for this site. The disturbance has been evaluated and it is found that the bond <br />is adequate to reclaim the 3.6 acre disturbance. <br />The permitted operator's actions have potential to cause the Division to initiate enforcement actions due to <br />inactivity, which could result in the revocation of the permit. The POA wishes to keep the permit compliant <br />and in force, and eventually assume the operation of the permit; the POA will benefit from the pit and does <br />not wish for it to be terminated. Therefore, this office will not consider the factors of the site condition or <br />inactivity to be problems at this time. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Stephanie Mitchell at the Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety, Grand Junction Field Office, 101 South 3rd Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado <br />81501, phone number (970) 242-5025. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />