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,~ • (Page 21 • <br />MINE ID !J OR PROSPECTING ID 11 M-1996-089 <br />INSPECTION DATE 11/19/01 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112 permits. The operator <br />named on page one was present throughout the inspection. The operation was active at the time of the inspection. <br />The permit ID sign was prominantly posted at the entrance to the site. The permit boundary is delineated on the ground <br />by a barbed wire fence at the property perimeter, with the affected area boundary marked by T-posts and a single strand <br />fence. All operations are carried out within the approved affected area, and match the areas indicated on recent annual <br />report maps. <br />Operations at the site have grown since the last inspection (3/5/98) but some reclamation has been performed also. The <br />excavated area has expanded toward the west, in conformance with the approved plan. The resulting larger pit floor allows <br />more segregation of the different stockpiled products there. There is, however, a limitation on the amount of disturbed <br />acreage at any one time, which the operator is aware of and operating in compliance with. At this time, since the acreage <br />limit has been reached, if a significant increase in disturbed acreage is desired, a technical revision must be filed. The <br />operator has opted for the short term to mine a few feet deeper. The pit floor is smooth and fairly level throughout. <br />The operator has begun reclaiming the north highwall. It is graded to 4:1, in accordance with the approved plan. The <br />surface was left with low horizontal ridges to help in revegetating it. Annual weeds formerly occupying the slope had been <br />bladed off during recent slope grading, which hopefully did not effectively distribute and plant the weed seeds in the <br />process. The slope has not been seeded with the approved seed mix yet this fall. The operator should review the approved <br />plan to verify the appropriate season for seeding, and should monitor for weed growth next spring. If runoff is not <br />controlled from the adjacent county road, gully erosion may occur also. <br />The west wall of the pit has been partially sloped. Aggregate is pushed down from the top at a stable gradient, and taken <br />by loader from the bottom of the slope to be processed lonsite crushed. Topsoil has been stripped a short distance ahead <br />of the advancing highwall prior to mining, and salvaged for later use. <br />Further growth of the pit to the west may require reclaiming some of the eastern or southern edge of the pit floor, to stay <br />under the acreage limitation, and under the current bond amount. The existing bond is S10,000, and must be recalculated <br />in the near future. Any increase will be communicated to the operator, at which time he will have 60 days to provide it. <br />In addition to the several product stockpiles onsite, there was a small pile of manure in the southwest corner of the pit <br />being mixed with reject fines to create asoil-like material. This might be sold or used onsite, but the operator should inform <br />the Division of future importations of material or substitutions of topsoil for final reclamation onsite. There is no problem <br />at this time. The operator should monitor for an explosion of weed growth from this manure, however, either in its <br />stockpiled location or wherever it is spread. <br />The site is free of contaminants, spilled fuel or other hydrocarbons, noxious weeds, and debris. This is a clean, well-run <br />operation. Pre-existing soil piles along the road in the west part of the permit area are mostly vegetated with grasses, with <br />a few annual weeds. <br />There were no additional items observed or discussed. No problems exist at this time. All responses or questions about <br />this inspection report should be directed to this inspector at the Division's Durango Field Office. The address is: Division <br />of Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301; telephone 970(247.5193, or fax <br />970/247-5104, <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME <br />OPERATOR <br />STREET <br />CITY/STATElZIP <br />Kenneth Skoalund <br />Skoalund Excavatino, Inc. <br />P.O. Box 209 <br />Moffat. CO 81143 <br />cc: Tom Gillis, DMG <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD ICHI <br />^ SE <br />^ WOCD (CHI <br />^ OTHER <br />