Laserfiche WebLink
<br />• (Page 21 • <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-91-097 <br />INSPECTION DATE 02/24/97 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This partial inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of 110 permits. The operator was contacted about <br />the inspection but was not present during the inspection. There was a 4-inch snow cover at the site, but it did not preclude the <br />inspection of the topics noted on page 1. <br />The pit is not in the active mining phase. Reclamation is well underway, as the grading and revegetation demonstrate. The pit <br />sldeslopes are graded to 3:1 or less, and do not exhibit any significant erosion. Though there was snow cover onsite, two species <br />were identified as growing throughout the site: (yellow?) sweetclover and crested wheatgrass. These are assumed to have been <br />seeded there as part of final reclamation. There were at least two other species present, but could not be identified at the time of <br />the inspection. No large numbers of annual weeds were observed. Likewise, because of the snow, no observations related to <br />topsoil were made. As noted above, however, there was no visible erosion of the pit slopes or the stockpiled material onsite. <br />Still present onsite were two large stockpiles, the larger one located immediately west of the pit, and the smaller one to the <br />northwest. The files indicate that these maybe primarily topsoil, with perhaps some overburden too. These piles have been graded <br />down to heights less than 10 feet, with slopes gentler than 4:1 . Some vegetation was noted as growing on these piles, but no <br />detailed examination was made. The configuration and condition of the piles are regarded as stable. The files also indicate that <br />there was a stripped area in the northeast end of the permit area in 1 994. Observations made during this inspection show that no <br />excavation has occurred at this location yet. It is not known whether more topsoil material is to be taken from either of the piles <br />for further reclamation of Che pit or the northern stripped area. The operator should strive to replace topsoil for reclamation in a <br />timely manner, if that activity still remains to be completed within the permit area. As always, reclamation activities should be <br />described in the annual reports. <br />There is pole from an overhead powerline within the pit area of this permit. Mining progressed until the east edge of the pit left the <br />pole on a "peninsula" of unmined land. The mining and/or reclamation affected the land to within a few feet of the base of the pole. <br />Across the road which borders the permit on the east is an irrigation ditch, which was also thought to potentially be adversely <br />affected by the mining activity. The files indicate that significant backfilling was required and did occur on the east edge of the pit, <br />in an attempt to stabilize this pole and ditch. Both appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection, though this determination <br />is not conclusive due to ground conditions. The operator was required in 1994 (Ruth Abbott was the operator at that time) to <br />provide evidence to this Division, of agreements for damage to those structures named above. There is no such agreement in this <br />file. The structures and question of stability still remain. The present operator must follow up on this past problem, and send a copy <br />of written agreements to this office. This gap in the permit documentation is not regarded as a problem at this time. However, since <br />the operator is actively pursuing the sale of the property on which this permit is located, it would seem to be in the operator's best <br />interest to obtain such agreements, and provide closure to this past problem. <br />The site overall was clean, with no equipment or debris on the area. There was one elevated fuel tank (300 gal capacity +/-1 on <br />the south edge of the permit area. The tank was empty. <br />There were no other items or any problems noted during this inspection. Ii the operator wishes to contact this inspector, please <br />note the address and phone below: <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />484 Turner Dr., Bldg F-101 <br />Durango CO 81301 <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME <br />OPERATOR <br />STREET <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP <br />Phone 970!247-5193or 247-5062. <br />Michael Guffey <br />P,0. Box 292 <br />Mesilla Park NM 88047 <br />cc: Steve Shuey, DMG <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD ICHI <br />^ SE <br />^ WOCD (CHI <br />^ OTHER <br />