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PERMIT#:M-2009-006 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS:AME <br /> INSPECTION DATE:January 16,2020 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> This was a normal monitoring inspection of the Meadow Hollow Quarry(Permit No. M-2009-006)by Amy <br /> Eschberger of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety(Division). The operator was represented by Deb <br /> Dorband during the inspection. The site is located approximately 10.5 miles west of Berthoud, CO in Larimer <br /> County,just two miles south of Carter Lake Reservoir. Access to the site is from the east off Co Rd 31. Photos <br /> 1-18 taken during the inspection are included with this report. <br /> This is a 110c operation permitted for 9.9 acres (see enclosed Google Earth image of site) to mine sandstone for <br /> building materials (dimension stone and flagstone). The site is situated on the east side of a ridge in Meadow <br /> Hollow, approximately 1.5 miles north of the Little Thompson River. The affected lands are owned by Wayne <br /> Dorband. A small pre-law quarry(now used for storage) is located directly adjacent to and north of the permit <br /> area, on land also owned by Wayne Dorband. Pre-law mining disturbances (extraction areas, overburden/topsoil <br /> stockpiles, waste rock stockpiles) also exist within the permit area, primarily in the southern half. Much of these <br /> pre-law areas have been redisturbed by the current operation either by continued quarrying, stockpiling, or <br /> equipment storage. Approximately 2-18 inches of topsoil/overburden is removed to reach the sandstone deposit. <br /> The sandstone deposit is approximately 20-60 feet thick. The sandstone is quarried by front end loaders, <br /> excavators, and hand tools. No explosives are used by the operation. The sandstone is processed with hand tools <br /> into flagstone, slabs, and blocks, and the remaining material is cut into strip-stone on a stone cutter. Salvaged <br /> topsoil and overburden will be incorporated into the work deck,used to reclaim previous disturbances, or <br /> stockpiled for future reclamation. No permanent structures will be constructed inside the permit area. <br /> The approved post-mining land use for the site is general agriculture. Disturbed slopes will be graded to 3H:1 V <br /> or flatter. If steeper slopes are required, the slopes will be stepped into terraces to accomplish the desired <br /> stability for the vegetation. The reclaimed slopes are expected to follow the general gradient of surrounding <br /> lands. Any waste rock not sold as rip rap will be used as reclamation backfill material. Topsoil will be replaced <br /> on disturbed land at a minimum depth of 6 inches. Disturbed land will be broadcast seeded with a grass seed <br /> mixture, and planted with Ponderosa Pine and Rocky Mountain Juniper, at 48 seedlings per acre and 12 <br /> seedlings per acre respectively. Existing roads will remain for continued use by the landowner. <br /> At the time of the inspection, the weather was clear and dry. A permit sign was posted at the main site entrance. <br /> This sign includes four different mine permit numbers, one of which is the correct permit number for the site <br /> (M-2009-006), and the others are for permits that have been terminated(M-2006-056, M2006-052, and M- <br /> 2003-036). It is not clear why the terminated permit numbers are listed on this sign. The Division recommends <br /> the operator revise the permit sign to remove or mark out the mine permit numbers that are not applicable to this <br /> site. The approved permit boundary was delineated with white posts. The site was not active during the <br /> inspection. However, according to annual reports submitted by the operator, the site is active every year <br /> (extracting,processing, and/or hauling off from stockpiled material) in accordance with its intermittent status. <br /> The Division estimates approximately 5 acres have been disturbed at this time. The active quarry is located at <br /> the center of the permit area. Mining is proceeding in a north/northwestward direction. No highwalls were <br /> observed in the quarry area, as the exposed sandstone deposit has a natural slope of approximately 3H:1 V or <br /> flatter. Numerous rubble piles are scattered throughout the site,the majority of which appears to be waste rock, <br /> while some appears to be product. A relatively flat area (work deck) located just south of the quarry is used for <br /> processing(cutting)the mined sandstone. A few stacks of cut stone are stored adjacent to the access road. The <br /> operator has backfilled, retopsoiled, and seeded the southern portion of the quarry, which the Division estimates <br /> to cover approximately 0.4 acres. Vegetative cover of this area is fairly sparse, but consists of grasses, some <br /> young pine trees, and weeds. The Division recommends the operator continue to monitor revegetation success <br /> in this area and reseed as necessary. <br /> Page 2 of 13 <br />