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• • (Page 21 • ' MINE ID ~ OR PF:OSPECTING ID ak M-1987-088 INSPECTION DATE 2-18-2000 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS OBSERVATIONS This was a routine partial inspection of the Hubbs Pit conducted as part of the Division's on-going monitoring program for active mine sites in Colorado. The site was saturated from recent snowmelt and runoff was occurring. The sediment pond was discharging what appeared to be clear water. It is quite obvious that this sediment pond would be very inadequate if activity was taking place at the site. The approved permit specifies that this pond will be 75 feet by 50 feet and though not specified, it is estimated that the pond would be 2-3 feet in depth. The actual size of this pond is currently estimated at 10 feet by 15 feet and less than 1 foot deep. The pond is also supposed to have a hay bale filter placed at the discharge point. This filter was not in place. The pond must be brought back to approved specifications before activity of any kind takes place at the site. Only minor off-site discharge of sediment was noted from some previous discharge event. The permit indicates that there was an underground oil pipeline, owned by Williford Energy Company, that crossed through the middle of Phase II. The area around this pipeline was not to be mined, as shown on the permit maps. This inspection revealed that this area has been mined and that there is no evidence of a pipeline. Please indicate what transactions occurred between the operator and Williford Energy Company that lead to the mining of this area. If written permission to excavate this pipeline was given by Williford Energy company, please provide this documentation to the Division. Reclamation of the site has not been conducted concurrently with excavation, as was committed to in the approved reclamation plan. Phase I was to have 7 acres reclaimed prior to excavation of Phase II. Reclamation of Phase I that needs to occur consists of overburden and topsoil placement, and revegetation tasks on all pit floor areas except where the Phase II and III access roads and the cattle feeding area are proposed. Phase II is currently close to completion of excavation, and only minor west pit slope backfilling has occurred in this phase. To keep this operation in compliance, the mining and reclamation plans must occur as approved. Otherwise the reclamation bond could become inadequate and the operation would be in violation. Reclamation of Phase I must occur as approved, prior to any additional excavation operations. Reclamation of Phase II, as specified in the reclamation plan, must take plate prior to any excavation of Phase III. The topsoil pile at the southwest corner of Phase I has an infestation of musk thistle that needs to have appropriate controls applied. A small patch of spotted Knapweed was also noted here. This weed is very aggressive and should be attacked aggressively while it is still trying to get established. Please submit a plan that will be used to address these noxious weed problems. It is recommended that the local weed control agent be contacted and consulted for input into this control plan. The plan should inrlude a thorough visual survey of the site, by a person knowledgeable in weed identification, to identify all noxious weed infestations on the site. The mine identification sign and permit boundary markers were in place and in compliance. The reclamation band appears to be just adequate to reclaim the site in it's current condition. The bond is due for updating and will be recalculated in the next few weeks and forwarded to the permittee. 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 OPERATOR STREET CITY/STATE/ZIP Barbara Hubbs Ted R. Hubbs Familv Trust 7994 East Saddleback Drive Kinsman. Arizona 86401 cc: Tom Gillis, DMG ^ CE ^ BL ^ FS ^ HW ^ HMWMD ICHI ^ SE ^ WOCD ICHI ^ OTHER cc: Nan Bedau - La Plata County