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PERMIT #: M-2002-109 <br />INSPECTOR’S INITIALS: AMG <br />INSPECTION DATE: October 22, 2024 <br /> <br />Page 2 of 12 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> <br />The Cucharas Pit was inspected by Amber Gibson with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(Division/DRMS). The inspection was completed as part of the Division’s routine monitoring inspection <br />program. The site was last inspected on December 12, 2019 as part of a routine monitoring inspection. Brad <br />Blasi, representing the Operator, accompanied me on the inspection. The weather was hot and the sky was clear. <br /> <br />The Cucharas Pit is located approximately 14 miles northeast of Walsenburg, Colorado. This is a 110c <br />operation permitted for 6.4 acres to mine sand and gravel for use in road construction and maintenance and <br />accessed off County Road 121. The original access road is no longer accessible via vehicle, as it has been <br />reclaimed per the landowner’s request, and there are also multiple fences preventing access. The Division <br />inspector and the Operator walked along the approximately 0.89-mile access road to reach the site. During the <br />2019 inspection, the access road to the adjacent permitted site ((Permit No. M-2011-003) operated by Huerfano <br />County) was used to access the Cucharas Pit. However, permit no. M-2011-003 has since been reclaimed and <br />released. <br /> <br />Availability of Records: <br />The annual report, map, and fee are paid through January 24, 2025. <br /> <br />Financial Warranty: <br />The Division evaluated the financial warranty and determined the current $7,756.00 reclamation bond held by <br />the Division is adequate at this time. <br /> <br />Hydrologic Balance and Sediment Control: <br />Low earthen berms, installed as stormwater berms, were observed around the edges of the plateau on which <br />mining had occurred (Photo 1). These berms appear to be successfully preventing stormwater runoff and excess <br />sediment erosion from leaving the site. These berms are approved to stay in place via the currently approved <br />reclamation plan. <br /> <br />Roads: <br />The most direct access to the site is via an approximately 0.89 mile, mostly reclaimed, access road (Photo 2). <br />Currently, there is no vehicle access to the site. The access road was removed from the permit boundary through <br />an acreage release (AR1) approved by the Division in 2015. <br /> <br />Right of Entry: <br />The remaining portion of the permit is located on land owned by James Pace and Brandie McCarthy. Following <br />the Division’s 2019 inspection, the Operator supplied an updated Legal Right of Entry from the landowners to <br />abate the problem cited within that report. <br /> <br />Backfilling and Grading, Revegetation Reclamation Success: <br />Brad Blasi, one of the Operator’s sons, is the current inspection contact for both this site and his father’s <br />Diamond Rock Pit (M-2000-047). The Blasi family had expressed interest prior to this inspection regarding <br />requesting a release for these two sites. The Division brought release forms for the Operator to fill out prior to <br />the next meeting, for if eligible, this inspection would qualify for a release inspection if conducted within 60 <br />days of the Division’s receipt of the release revision forms. <br /> <br />Upon inspecting the site, the Division observed that all the pit slopes have been graded to approximately a <br />3H:1V or flatter (Photos 3-5). Topsoil has been spread and the site has been seeded with the approved seed mix.