INSPEC11389

• Permit No: M1983033
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 11/30/2001
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• (Page 2) •
MINE ID # OR PROSP CTING ID # M-$3-033
INSPECTION DATE ~~3a/~/
INSPECTOR'S INITIALS TAS
1. A site inspection was made of the Walstrum Quarry in response to a written complaint
received on November 14, 2001 from Stan Gale and Mike Crouse of the Douglas Mountain
Resident's Association. Present during the inspection were Albert Frei Jr. and Steve
O'Brian of Environment, Inc. A copy of the complaint letter was made available to Mr.
Frei and Mr. O'Brian. They are encouraged to respond in writing to the DMG as to the
allegations in the complaint letter. The concerns presented in the complaint letter and
the Division's response to each item are listed below.
2. DMRA Complaint: There has been an exponential increase in the volume of gravel truck
traffic on U.S. Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon and there are several accidents each week
in the Canyon, many involving gravel trucks associated with the Frei Quarry. Gravel
trucks are routinely observed exceeding the speed limit; particularly when empty driving
up the Canyon. More importantly, several truckers and others have died in Quarry-related
traffic accidents in this narrow canyon this year. Fully loaded gravel trucks routinely
lose control and plunge into Clear Creek, polluting the water supply of the City of Golden
and other downstream water users.
DMG Response: This inspector, while driving west-bound on Highway 6 toward the Walstrum
Quarry encountered many on-coming east-bound gravel trucks. None of the gravel trucks
appeared to be speeding and there were no gravel truck accidents noted during the time
period of 10:08 A.M. to 11:08 A.M. Also, the gravel trucks which were fully loaded
appeared to be in control, and none were seen to be plunging into Clear Creek. The
frequency of gravel truck traffic on Highway 6 was approximately 1 truck per minute.
Although the Division agrees that traffic safety along Highway 6 in the Clear Creek
Canyon is very important, the concerns expressed by the complaintants fall within the
jurisdiction of the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and/or the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) Albert Frei Jr. indicated that Albert Frei & Sons, Inc. is
cooperating with representatives of the CSP and CDOT to encourage all truckers who
enter and exit the Walstrum Quarry to drive safely and adhere to traffic laws while
driving in Clear Creek Canyon. Also, Mr. Albert Frei Jr. verified, as per discussions
with the CSP, that there have been no quarry related traffic accidents in the Canyon
this year.
3. DMRA Complaint: Gravel trucks are staging on U.S. 6 at night with no lighting on the
highway. Gravel trucks have been observed crossing U.S. 6 at night creating an extremely
dangerous condition. Eastbound traffic exits I-70 at a high rate of speed in this area
and visibility on U.S. 6 is limited. In this narrow canyon there is no tangent available
for safe ingress or egress from U.S. 6.
DMG Response: Mr. Frei clarified that gravel trucks are not staging on U.S. 6 at any time
of the day, especially at night. Mr. Frei affirmed the commitment of his company to
cooperate with CDOT and have all gravel trucks stage in areas clearly outside of U.S. 6
and its right of way.
4. DMRA Complaint: At the quarry entrance, gravel trucks use the U.S. 6 right-of-way for
staging, resulting in significant deposition of dust, sand, and gravel on the highway and
shoulder areas. The common practice used by the Quarry is to drive a front-end loader
into Clear Creek, pick up a bucket of water, and dump it onto the highway. This practice,
along with storm water runoff washes mine residuals from the staging area directly into