INSPEC07401

• Permit No: M1976007UG
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 9/18/1997
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• ~ (Page 2)
iMINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-76-007IIG
INSPECTION DATE 9-18-97 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS GSC
OBSERVATIONS
This inspection was conducted in response to a complaint letter received from Brian McNeice
and Jennifer Ramstetter who own land near a surface clay mine operated ]~y Denver Brick
Company. The permit is located on land owned by the State of Colorado and Mr. Mark Davis of
the State Land Board was in attendance during the inspection. Also present were Wayne Spence
of Denver Brick Company, Brett McCormick, and Ron Bennetts.
The permit area is a 2100 feet long by 200 feet wide rectangle situated on a :aeries of nearly
vertical clay seams along the Dakota Ridge hogback north of Golden. Somca of the permit
markers have been obscured of covered. The boundaries of the affected area must be marked
by clearly visible markers and an entrance sign must be installed pursuant to Rule 3.1.12
(see Problem PB-1).
These clay seams have been mined for brick and fire clay since the late 1800' and the entire
length of the hogback in this area exhibits extensive pre-law surface and underground
disturbance. The area of active mining in permit M-76-007UG totals about one acre, and is
mined from the surface with a dozer and loader. There is no processing or other equipment
on site.
Until the 1960'x, these clay seams were mined underground and the clay was accessed via
crosscut adits which were driven from the lower slopes to the east. One such adit is located
on property owned by Brett and Tonya McCormick. The adit portal is caved and is discharging
about one gallon per minute. The discharge is directed through a pipe toward the north where
it flows onto pasture land owned by Brian McNeice and Jennifer Ramstetter. T:ae water spreads
out over one to two acres of the McNeice/Ramstetter land, leaving a discolored crust with no
vegetation. The complaint letter included an analysis of the discharge water sampled by Mr.
McNeice, showing a pH of 3.3 and high levels of some metals. According to Brett McCormick
and Ron Bennetts, this adit was opened in 1927 and closed in 1962 and it began to discharge
in 1972.
The discharging adit is about 850 feet east of the M-76-007UG permit area. The area of
mining activity is now taking place about 1,700 feet northwest of the discharging adit. The
source of the discharge is presumably from the extensive, pre-law underground workings which
began to fill with water when the pumps were turned off in the early 1960'x. Since there was
extensive pre-law surface mining in the same areas, it is assumed that the entire scar area
serves as a recharge area to the underground workings. These underground workings run for
thousands of feet along the hogback ridge in both directions from the discharging adit. The
relatively small area in which the operator is now mining is not considered by the Division
to be of significance in contributing to the discharge.
To summarize, the discharge is not coming from the permit area, it was in existence during
pre-law times, and there is no evidence that the operator has done anything ~:o contribute to
the source of the discharge. Therefore, the Division can not require of the operator any
corrective actions with respect to the discharge. A copy of this report ar:d the complaint
letter will be forwarded to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water
Quality Control Division.
i ~ E Contact Address
^ CE
NAME Wayne Spence ^ BL
OPrRATOR Denver brick Comoanv ^ FS
STREET P.O. Box 1600 ^ HW
CITY/STATE/ZIP Castle Rock, CO 80104 ^ HMWMD (('H)
^ SE
CERTIFIED MAIL NO Z 416 942 917 ^ WQCD (Cfi)
Its turn Receipt Requested ~ OTHER