INSPEC12037

• Permit No: M1983148
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 5/2/1997
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• (Page 21 •
MINE ID k OR PROSPECTING ID R M-83-148
INSPECTION DATE 05/02/97 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO
This inspection by the Division was performed as a follow up to the Division's inspection dated 03/20/97, and in response to an
accident incident which occurred on 04/23/97. The accident, which this office received report of on 04/25/97, involved a citizen
driving his vehicle over the pit's highwall at the south end of the mining area.
There are several problems noted on page one of this report, which were also noted as problems to be addressed in the report for
the prior inspection. The (pre-existing) problem of the presence and use of an asphalt batch plant is to be addressed by 05/31 /97,
unless the operator requests a reasonable extension to the corrective action date. This affects the topics of "general mine plan
compliance" and "processing facilities". There were no newly observed problems noted under those topics during this inspection.
The other topic, "acid or toxic materials", was also apre-existing problem noted during the prior inspection. There was a small area
of apparently spilled fuel which the operator was to clean up by the corrective action date of 04/30/97. (The operator was not
present at the prior inspection.) The operator did not perform any clean up of the contaminated soil in question, but did, however,
remove a small amount of spilled asphalt near the batch plant's loadout location. This was admitted by the operator to be a case
of lack of communication between county personnel. The operator stated that the soil would be cleaned up properly, with a brief
report describing the removal and/or disposal. The operator requested a short extension to this correction date, and it was granted.
There were no newly observed problems noted under this topic during this inspection.
The site of the vehicular accident was observed. There was a bit of the shoulder of the highwall seen to be pushed down onto the
cut slope, and scattered broken auto glass on the pit floor at the point of impact. The vehicle has been removed. The road above
the highwall was next observed. As the State Patrol trooper's report mentioned, which matches the operator's report, the vehicle
was driven onto the private land on which the pit is located through a gate in the property boundary fence south of the pit's
highwall, and continued to the south. Upon returning, the turn off at the gate was not taken, but the vehicle was apparently driven
north on the private road straight toward the highwall and over it. There was no barrier preventing entrance to the pit at the time
of the accident.
During this inspection, a new earthen barrier was observed as having been constructed. It completely crosses the road just north
of the property gate, and prevents access to the section of private road between the gate and the highwall. It extends from the
boundary fenceline on the east to a low cut slope west of the road, which is not easily crossed by vehicle. The barrier is 40 feet
long or more, and five feet high, constructed from overburden taken from an area just south of the highwall shoulder near the barrier
location. The barrier location and design are such that ordinary vehicles cannot access the private road in that direction and drive
north on the road to intercept the highwall or enter any part of the permit's current area of activity.
The pit is and was accessible by the permit's main entrance, which is on a more major road and is clearly identified as a permitted
gravel pit. The boundary of the permit area on the southeast and south sides Ithe proximity of the accident) is delineated by
fencelines along the property boundary, though no identifying sign is or was posted at the gate used by the driver of the vehicle
in the accident. Based on the requirements set forth in Rule 3.1 .12, concerning posting signs and markers at a permit area, there
does not appear to be a problem at this time under the topic of "signs and markers".
Attached to this report, for the benefit of the parties other than the operator who are being sent a copy of this report, is a diagram
of the area. The diagram was supplied to this office by the operator.
There were no new problems observed during this inspection.
If there are questions concerning this report, please contact this inspector at the following address or phone
Division of Minerals and Geology
484 Turner Dr., Suite F-101
Durango CO 81301
Phone: [phone] or 247-5062.
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