2023-08-12_INSPECTION - M2009077

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PERMIT#:M-2009-077 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: JR2 INSPECTION DATE: June 15,2023 OBSERVATIONS The Dill Pit was inspected by Joel Renfro and Amy Eschberger with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division/DRMS) as part of the Division's routine monitoring program. This site was previously inspected by the Division on June 30, 2017 as a pre-operation inspection before it's conversion to a 112c permit. Ed Grimes was present during the inspection. This operation mines for sand and is currently active. The site is located approximately 6 miles southwest of Limon, CO. This site is accessed from the north off of Hwy 24 via an access road through the landowner's property. The approved post-mining land use is rangeland. Photos 1-13 taken during the inspection are included with this report. The Dill Pit is a 112c operation permitted for 19.4 acres, including the 18.2 acre mining area and the 1.2 acre access road (see enclosed Google Earth image of site showing approved permit area). This operation converted from a 110c permit to a 112c permit in January 2018 (see enclosed mining and reclamation plan maps). The Division estimates approximately 14.5 acres have been disturbed thus far. The pit has been mined generally from north to south and is approximately 20 feet deep. The mine plan states that slopes will be mined at 3H:1V; slopes around the pit range between 2H:1V to 3H:1V. A few stockpiles of mined material are stored on the pit floor. Topsoil is stockpiled around the pit on top of the highwalls. Mining equipment was present at the time of inspection. Mining had occurred earlier in the year and now the operation is hauling product off site according to demand. Boundary markers were inspected and metal post markers were found in every corner(see Photos 5- 8); a fence marks the western boundary. The operation is mining around an existing ephemeral drainage which, when carrying water, flows southwest to northeast across the permit area. The pit floor will be maintained no lower than the elevation of the drainage channel at all times. Stormwater management has been observed as effective as this region did experience significant storm events in the days leading up to the inspection, and there was no ponded water present at the time of inspection. However, a culvert installed under Co Rd 189 west of the site discharges stormwater into the natural drainage that crosses the permit area. This has caused severe erosion both inside and outside of the western edge of the permit area (see Photo 11). While the county is responsible for maintaining Co Rd 189 and its associated stormwater structures, the operator is responsible for stabilizing and protecting all surface areas of the affected land so as to effectively control erosion in accordance with C.R.S. 34.32.5-116(4)0). However, it will be difficult to sufficiently address this issue within the permit area without some coordination with the county to modify and/or repair the stormwater structure for their road. Therefore, the Division recommends the operator reach out to the county at their earliest convenience to work on a solution. If the solution involves any changes to the approved mining and/or reclamation plans, such as the installation of an energy dissipation feature/structure that extends into the permit area, the operator can modify the applicable plans and maps through the submittal of a Technical Revision. Reclamation has not yet started at this site. The approved reclamation plan includes grading all disturbed slopes to 3H:IV, except for the western pit wall, which will be graded to 4H:IV. The pit floor will be graded at an approximate 1% grade sloping away from the toe of the slopes, toward the intersected drainage. This will ensure no ponding of rain or snow runoff and prevent excessive site erosion. Any compacted areas (e.g., pit floor, stockpile areas, internal haul roads)will need to be ripped prior to replacing topsoil. On February 24, 2017, the Division approved the operator's request to import up to 7,000 cubic yards of silty clay to the site to place on graded slopes prior to replacing topsoil. The operator believes placing the silty clay on top of the sand will help stabilize the topsoil while the slopes are undergoing revegetation. The site will have topsoil replaced over all disturbed areas anywhere from 3 to 6 inches deep. The seedbed will be scarified and then drilled or broadcast seeded, depending on the slope gradient. Revegetation will include a seed mix of native grasses and forbs. Fertilizer and mulch will be used for revegetation. The pit floor and the flatter graded western pit wall Page 3 of 12