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,, • (Page 21 MINE ID ar OR PROSPECTING ID at M-94-081 INSPECTION DATE 1-28-2000 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS OBSERVATIONS This was a partial inspection of the Peat Mine, conducted as part of the Division's routine monitoring program and to evaluate the current site conditions for use in recalculating the reclamation cost estimate. The reclamation cos[ estimate is used to determine if the current financial warranty is adequate to reclaim the site per the approved reclamation plan. The site currently consists of two pits, an east and a west pit. The west pit is estimated at 2-3 acres and has not been mined in some time, but still has some berms of material, that appear to be mixtures of peat and sand, located at the crest of the pit slope on the north. The west pit slopes are all graded to less than a 3:1 grade. It does not appear that any revegetation effort has been conducted. The east pit is the currently active pit and is estimated at 4-5 acres in size. The pit remains approximately 12 feet deep. The vertical highwall that was located on the south and east sides of this pit, during the last inspection, have been backfilled to an estimated 3:1 slope. However, there is now a vertical mining face along the north side of this pit. The highwall is estimated at 250 feet long and 12 feet high. The approved mining plan for this site states that all slopes will be maintained at the final grade during mining. There was no equipment noted on site, nor any sign of recent activity, so current mining is obviously not taking place. Because the operator has failed to adhere to this commitment, the financial warranty may not be adequate to cover current costs to reclaim the site. Because subsequent inspections have noted the problem with vertical highwalls, the operator is encouraged to re-evaluate the mining plan to determine if it is too restrictive. If so, the operator should submit a technical revision to the permit, addressing a mining plan that utilizes a vertical highwall. Otherwise, the operation must be mined as specified in the approved permit. If, in the future, the Division observes another vertical highwall at this site, and the permit has not been revised to allow for this, an enforcement action may be taken. To correct this highwall problem, the operator must reduce the highwall to the approved grade, or submit a technical revision as described above. Either corrective action must be taken by March 17, 2000. If the highwall is to be reduced to 3:1, photographs of the reduced highwall must be submitted to the Division by that date to document that the problem has been corrected. If the technical revision is submitted, the financial warranty will be adjusted to account for the additional work required to reduce the highwall prior to revegetation. Rule 3 requires that each reclamation phase be completed within five years of when it begins. It appears that mining is completed in the west pit and has not taken place since 1996. If this is the case the operator will need to perform the required revegetation tasks this spring to show due diligence in attempting to establish vegetation as required. If revegetation tasks are to take place this spring, they should be conducted as soon as ground thaw occurs. This will allow the seed to take advantage of the spring moisture. A reclamation cost estimate recalculation will take place in the next few weeks and will be forwarded to the operator at that time. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to: Division of Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino Del Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Steve Shuey, phone no. 970-247-5062. I & E Contact Address NAME Ron Barrier OPERATOR Mr. Peat STREET P. 0. Box 3 CITY/STATE/ZIP Alamosa. Colorado 81101 cc: Tom Gillis, DMG ^ CE ^ BL ^ FS ^ HW ^ HMWMD ICH) ^ SE ^ WOCD (CHI ^ OTHER