2021-11-15_INSPECTION - M1987026

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PERMIT 4: M-1987-026 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ECS INSPECTION DATE: November 9, 2021 OBSERVATIONS This was a pre -operation inspection for CN1 conducted by Eric Scott of the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) of the Black Obsidian Quarry, a 9 acre, 110c permit operated by Colorado Quarries Inc. Permittee representative Aaron Tezak accompanied DRMS during the inspection. The Black Obsidian Quarry is located approximately 1 mile north of the town of Silvercliff, and a portion of the mineral rights for the site are owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) The majority of the existing 9 acre permit area has been disturbed at this time. The permit is mined as needed for landscaping material, the approved post mining land use is rangeland. The current reclamation bond for the 9 acre site is $66,400. The site identification sign and notice of conversion applied for were present at the entrance to the site, however, as stated on the first page of this report, the permit number on the identification sign is incorrect (photos 1-2). This will need to be corrected and a new site identification sign meeting the rule requirements stated will need to be installed by no later than 12/31/21. The CN1 application was called complete for review by DRMS on August 2, 2021 and seeks to add 136.67 acres to the existing permit area, revise the mining and reclamation plans, and update the required reclamation bond as appropriate. At the time of this inspection, the decision date for CN1 has been extended to December 1, 2021 to allow addition time to address remaining adequacy issues. Although the existing disturbance remains within the permitted area, the excavation has progressed to the point that there is little area left within the permit to support final reclamation of the existing high -wall and excavated area. Approval of the conversion application will allow additional mining area, as well as access to material to facilitate proper reclamation of the site. During the verification of the permit boundary markers there was initially some confusion as to what boundary had been marked. DRMS had anticipated that the proposed 112c boundary had been marked, however, during the adequacy process the operator has made the decision to define a smaller area within the proposed 112c permit area as "affected area" as defined by the Rule. This smaller affected area is what had been marked for this inspection, but maps of the proposed affected area have not yet been submitted to DRMS as part of the adequacy process. Specification of a smaller affected area within a larger 112c permit boundary is allowable by rule, however, it should be noted that any mining related disturbances outside of the defined affected area will be considered a violation. Increases to the affected area can only be made through the amendment process even if the increased affected area remains within the approved permit boundary. Due to the complexity of the proposed permit and affected area boundaries, DRMS will require the following additional information to be submitted during the adequacy review process prior to approval of CN1: • A map of the proposed affected area within the 112c permit, with the surveyed GPS coordinates of all corners, and the boundary of the affected area shown overlain on a current air photo. The total acres within the affected area will need to be clearly stated and defined. • A map of the total proposed permitted area for the 112c, with GPS coordinates of all corners, and boundary overlain on a current air photo. DRMS also strongly recommends that the corners of the proposed 112c permit be permanently marked in the field to prevent future confusion as to their locations. The mine was active at the time of the inspection with heavy equipment and a crusher on site. There were stockpiles of crushed material and topsoil/overburden located on site and around the perimeter of the existing pit (photos 3-4). The excavation has progressed toward the north side of the existing permit area Page 2 of 4