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<br />(Page 21 <br /> <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID aY M-78-066 <br />INSPECTION DATE 5-1-97 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection of the 10 Miles South Pit was conducted to evaluate the proposed area of expansion as described it Rio Grande <br />County's application to convert this site to a 1 12 operation. The existing permit area was also inspected for compliance with permit <br />conditions. <br />This operation is located within a historic Highway Department gravel pit. When this operation was permitted, it was approved to <br />disturb 8 acres within the 1 7 acre existing pit. The county has graded some of the pit slopes and excavated portions of the pit floor <br />to greater depth. Much of the existing pit has established a fair vegetative cover through natural infiltration of seed. This provides <br />encouragement that revegetation of the site, using standard reclamation practices, is feasible. <br />The existing permit specifies that the pit slopes would be reclaimed to a 5:1 grade. Current slopes are approximately 2:1. The <br />conversion application specifies that 2:1 will be the final grade of these slopes. Considering the post-mining land use of rangeland <br />and wildlife habitat, and the difficulty in establishing vegetation in this region, the pit slopes should be no steeper than 3:1 . <br />The pit is currently dry, though the pit depth is to be determined by groundwater encountered when adjacent fields are being <br />irrigated. If no water is encountered during mining, the maximum proposed pit depth is 30 feet. Rio Grande County must be sure <br />not to excavate to a depth where water is allowed to stand in the pit. This condition makes it nearly impossible to establish <br />vegetation. <br />Structures within 200 feet of the site, concrete lined irrigation ditch, power lines and poles, well, pond, and fences appear to be <br />in a good state of repair at this time. Damage waivers are being submitted for these structures as part of the conversion application. <br />The irrigation ditch is slowing and does not show signs of leaking into the pit. The pond is near full and also does not show signs <br />of seeping into the pit. <br />Topsoil is negligible to non-existent on the area proposed to be mined. Vegetation is patchy and consists of a mixture of warm and <br />cool season grasses, a variety of (orbs and a few shrubs. Estimated ground cover is 35 percent to 50 percent. <br />There is currently no equipment or storage of any kind on site. Permit boundaries for the proposed permit area will be marked with <br />fence. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME Buddy Shaver <br />OPERATOR Rio Grande County Road Dept. <br />STREET P. O. Box 46 <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP Monte Vista, Colorado 81144 <br />cc: Tom Gillis, DMG <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD ICHI <br />^ SE <br />^ WOCD (CH) <br />^ OTHER <br />