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• (Page 2) • MINE ID #' OR PROSPECTING ID ,f` M-77-053 INSPECTION DATE 09/13/94 INSPECTOR`S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division ae part of its ongoing monitoring, and to reassess the adequacy of the bond amount. The operator's representative, named on page 1, was contacted about this inspection, and met this operator at the site. The bond amount ie $2500, and was estimated to not be adequate for this permit area. This was discussed with the operator during the inspection. The bond will be recalculated and forwarded to the operator for review, before an increase is required. Calculation will assume that reclamation will not be carried out concurrently, during operation of the pit. (Though parts of the permit area have already been final graded, and other parts revegetated.) The operator is reminded that a lower reclamation coat estimate may result if he can continue to fully or partially reclaim parts of the permit area before the end of the mining activities. The permit area was identified at the entrance by a sign, also indicating that there was a second permit area in the vicinity. There is, in fact, a 111 permit area adjoining this 110 permit, under the same operator. There were markers and features at the site sufficient to delineate the 110 permit area. All operations, except for the pit access road from the county road, are at least 200 feet from existing structures, in keeping with the permit. The pit is about 20 to 30 feet deep, the deepest portion being the west central part of the pit. There ie no part of the operation being carried on outside of the permit boundary. There ie an adequate stockpile of topsoil on the southwest corner. The operator has knocked down the steep slopes on part of the north wall. A part of the northwest corner has been stripped in anticipation of further mining. This is an old pit, opened before the present operator took over permittee statue. The east and south aides of the pit have been graded and vegetated, apparently long ago, and have not been redieturbed by the present operator. There is a historic seep along the east pit wall next to the access road into the pit, evidenced by the clear delineation of dryland vegetation above, and phreatophytic vegetation below, a certain level. There are numerous willow shrubs along this part of the pit wall also. On this particular day, there was actually a visible surface flow of water coming from the ground, draining across the pit floor, and collecting in the lowest part of the pit. There was about an acre of water surface, averaging about afoot deep. The operator's crusher was parked in the middle of the "pond", unable to be moved due to the water. The actively mined highwall ie adjacent to the area of ponded water, and was also unable to be accessed. Operations at this point are restricted to removing existing stockpiles, which are Located on dry portions of the pit floor. There is a pump set up at the west side of the pit, operating during this inspection, pumping water out of the pit toward the west. Water is being routed away from the pit, in a shallow channel, and though it has been pumped out there for many days, signs of water or mud on the surface do not extend far from the pit. It La surmised that the water is percolating quickly into the ground, possibly rejoining the same pond. No portion of the short channel made to divert water away from the pit is outside of the permit area, nor is any water itself leaving the permit area. The operator was informed that water leaving the permit area may require a discharge permit, from the Colo Dept of Health. (If the operator wishes to, or finds that he is required to, inquire about a discharge permit, the address for CDOH is shown below.) Operator stated that for the last 20 or 30 years, this has been a dry pit, but that this year during the late summer, water percolating into the pit has been a problem. The local water commissioner was contacted by the operator about this problem. The operator hypothesizes that the movement of groundwater may be from the ditch lateral about one half mile to the east. The ditch's channel was cleaned out this year, and the cleaning may have removed silts that formerly sealed the ground against excessive percolation.