INSPEC05359 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1992-054 INSPECTION DATE 12/13105 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 110 permits, and as a pre- operation inspection of the areas proposed in the conversion application (CN-01) to a 112c permit. This permit is also being transferred to a new permittee, LBCR, LLC, as named below. Todd Fisher, representing the new permittee (successor operator) and his agent contacted this office to schedule an inspection. The successor operator and agent were present during the inspection. There was a 3-inch cover of new snow across much of the site, but it did not prevent the inspection from occurring. EXISTING 110 PERMIT AREA The required permit ID was posted at the closed entrance gate to the existing 110 permit area. The successor operator is aware that an updated ID sign will be required after the permit transfer is effected, and must be posted at the entrance(s) to the permit area (entrance location will change during the conversion to a 112c permit). Please refer to Rule 3.1.12 for the required ID sign information. Most of the previouslyobserved debris and agricultural equipment has been removed from the existing pit. There were still a couple small piles of irrigation pipe. There was no mining equipment and no fuel or hydrocarbon storage tank onsite. There has been no further excavation. There were still several small piles of cobbles and gravel in the pit. The pit slopes appear intact, and no topsoil erosion was evident. The topsoil stockpiles along the west margin of the pit are still present. They do not exhibit damage from erosion, but do still contain Russian knapweed. The current operator (Fesco, Inc.) has included a weed control plan in this permit. The knapweed patch does not appear to have spread further, but care should be taken when handling or respreading this stockpiled topsoil so as to not spread the infestation. The existing bond amount was calculated to include the removal of debris, as well as certain amounts of grading, topsoil replacement, and revegetation. Some of these tasks have been done to some extent, and the current bond is considered to be sufficient at this time. As part of the conversion application, the bond will be recalculated for the larger proposed disturbance. PROPOSED 112c PERMIT AREA The 112c permit will be mined in 4 distinct phases, one of which includes the current 110 permitted area. All of the proposed 112c permitted areas are contained within the ranch property now owned by the successor operator (LBCR, LLC). The affected areas mostly consist of cleared land that is now irrigated cropland. They are mainly bounded by areas of steeper hillslopes, arroyos, or sandstone cliffs, mostly covered by native pinyon and juniper and rangeland plants. These cropland benches will be stripped of topsopil and overburden, mined, and reclaimed back to range or cropland. A few areas containing musk thistle or Russian knapweed were observed, which the operator or successor operator must include in the ongoing noxious weed control plan. (There is an opportunity to include a wider weed control plan for the converted 112c area during the review process.) There is a system of buried irrigation pipes on the site. It enters the property on the north and crosses all four phase areas as it extends south. All excavation is planned to occur east of the pipeline. There may be an area of the affected land west of the pipeline, but it proposed for hatching or processing activity and will not be excavated. There are also old unlined irrigation ditches that are owned by the ranch, which are not in use anymore. There are several property boundaries that are approximately defined by old livestock fence (woven wire and barbed wire) that are the property of this ranch. There is little if any expected impact by mining activity to the ditches or fences. There is a system of onsite ranch roads, some of which will be upgraded for pit traffic. There are two arroyos that must be crossed for onsite haulage and pit access. These currently contain no culverts or other improvements. Increased and heavier pit traffic may require the construction of better crossings to prevent deterioration of the bottomland, to reduce potential sediment transport. There are also gas wells, buried gaslines, gas well roads, and overhead electric lines on the site, all of which are owned by other parties. Mining-related activities (including roadways) are planned to occur within 200 feet of many of these structures. The successor operator has submitted an engineering evaluation to demonstrate that there will be no adverse impact to these structures, if certain setbacks and slopes are maintained. The process of review of the conversion application, the calculation of the new bond amount, and the finalizing of the permit transfer were discussed. The outstanding technical issues of the 112c conversion will be sent in a separate letter to all parties.