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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during <br />the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the <br />facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a partial inspection conducted by Tom Gillis ofthe Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology. <br />Ross Gubka represented the operator. Skies were clear and the ground was dry at the time of the <br />inspection. With the operator's consent, this report was issued from the Durango office. <br />ROADS: <br />The operator is in the process of re-establishing the mined-through portion of the county road. Pit <br />backfilling & grading work has advanced far enough to allow the operator to begin re-establishing the <br />road's original course through the permit area. A bulk of the grading work appeared to have been <br />completed, and at the time of the inspection the operator was in the last stages of compacting the sub-base <br />in prepazation for placement of base course and surfacing materials. <br />MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE -BOREHOLE ABANDONMENT: <br />The operator is also in the process of doing some exploratory drilling work ahead of the pit. Plans for <br />abandonment of the 5-inch uncased boreholes (dry holes, 50 - 80 ft. depth range) include placing 2-1001b. <br />Bags of bentonite chips in the bottom of the hole followed by drill cuttings to a depth of 10 feet below the <br />surface. Portland cement is then placed in the hole to within 3 ft. of the surface (below plow depth). Site <br />cleanup is minimal (200 - 400 sq. ft.) with only minor quantities of drilling mud & cuttings needing to be <br />collected with a backhoe and hauled to the pit for disposal. Estimated time for borehole sealing & site <br />cleanup with a 2-person crew, light duty pickup and backhoe loader is azound 1 hour per borehole. <br />