INSPEC04096 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M1983-209 INSPECTION DATE 9-14-2004 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS OBSERVATIONS This inspection was conducted at the landowners (Frank Gilmore) request, to ensure that all reclamation requirements were being met, now that the pit is in final reclamation, and to ensure all parties were on the same page regarding what is to be accomplished during reclamation. Mr. Gilmore was present for the entire inspection. The east portion of the pit has a small amount of material yet to tie removed, but reclamation of the east portion is to begin in the near future. The east portion of the pit requires some minor pit floor grading to ensure drainage from the pit does not pond up, but flows unobstructed to the Swale in between the east and west pit areas. Slopes and scattered piles of material need to be graded to final approved grades and covered with any available topsoil. This site originally had little topsoil available, and that material was used on the west portion of the pit to get the best growth possible on that area. The east portion will be amended with fertilizer, but will not have much topsoil unless the operator imports the material. The operator is encouraged to, but is not required to, import growth medium soils to replace over graded pit surtaces and temporarily irrigate (minimal) to get the seed to germinate and establish roots sooner. The vegetation effort on the west portion of the site has been very successful in establishing desirable, perennial vegetation. This portion of the site was irrigated to give the vegetation a head start, but is not a required specification of the reclamation plan. The landowner indicated that he plans to continue irrigation of this portion. The vegetation, established with irrigation, appears to exhibit much more cover and productivity that the pre-mine vegetation described in the original permit application. The operator and landowner indicated that the landowner adjacent to, and upgradient of the mine site had over irrigated atone time this past summer, causing the west area to be inundated and the overland flow discharged out the west end of the site instead of to the drainage Swale in the center of the permit area. They indicated that the discharge had eroded the access road and ditch exposing an adjacent landowners utility lines and washing away a portion of his driveway. All of this disturbance was repaired and was not evident during this inspection. However, both Mr. Gilmore and Mr. Hawkins did not want a repeat event if the upgradient landowner over-irrigated in the future. Ideas were tossed about on how to ensure drainage from the west side of the pit makes it to the center drainage swale without tearing up the well vegetated reclamation. Ideally, this area should have been graded to ensure all drainage flowed easterly. If some type of ditch or berm or combination cannot be installed to direct the west area surface flows to the center Swale, then the west area may need to be torn up and regraded to slope slightly east. Mr. Hawkins has indicated that he will shoot some elevations across the west area and determine how best to redirect the drainage from this area. Once the elevations and proposed drainage plans are determined, Mr. Gilmore should review the proposal to ensure he approves of the plan. When both parties concur on a drainage plan, Western Slope Construction Company will need to submit the new plan to DMG, as a technical revision, with the revision fee of $188.00. Upon DMG approval of the revision, the drainage plan features can be installed. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Steve Shuey at the Division of Minerals and Geology, Grand Junction Field Office, 101 South 3rd Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone number 970-243-6368. I & E Contact Address cc: ^ CE NAME Jack Hawkins ^ BL OPERATOR Western Slope Construction Comoanv ^ FS STREET 1221 Highway 50 ^ HW CITY/STATE/ZIP Delta, Colorado 81416 ^ HMWMD (CH) ^ SE ^ WOGD (CH) OTHER -Frank Gilmore