INSPEC12075

• Permit No: M1982147
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 2/28/2001
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• ~ (Page 2) •
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-82-147
INSPECTION DATE 2/28/2001 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS TAS
OBSERVATIONS
1. A site inspection was made of the Nyholt Pit as part of the Division's on-going
investigation of a number of citizen complaints received during the fall of 2000 from surface
and groundwater users in the Henderson area. (See attached complaint letters). The purpose
of the inspection was to 1) verify the status of permits/approvals required from the Office
of the State Engineer (OSE) for current activities at the Nyholt Pit, and 2) determine what
options are available to the operator to ensure that the Nyholt Pit is in compliance with the
requirements of Rule 3.1.6(1), ie: disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance of the
affected land and of the surrcunding area and to the quantity or quality of water in surface
and groundwater systems both during and after the mining operation and during reclamation
shall be minimized. Present during the site inspection was Duane Bollig and Brett Baker.
2. The Nyholt Pit is permitted for a total of 308.7 acres with a financial warranty of
$148,100 in the form of a Corporate Surety. The mining plan specifies dewatering and dry
mining methods. Soils & overburden vary from 0 to 5' in thickness; sand & gravel below the
overburden varies in thicknesos from 20 to 25'. Groundwater is anticipated to occur at a
depth of 5 to 6' below the ground surface. Mining will occur in 4 phases and wil result in
the creation of 3 lined water storage reservoirs with a total surface area of 153 acres.
There will be approximately ].8,500 linear feet of liner/shoreline to be constructed. The
reclamation plan specifies the following: "The reservoirs will be fu21y lined with shales,
clay, and overburden creating an impervious barrier for water to be stored in it. The
structures will be designed and construction monitored by Engineers designated by Adams
County. Generally speaking the embankment will be anchored into the shale floor with a
keyway. The compaction will t>e at a minimum of 958. The side slopes will be graded to 3:1
the full depths of the embankment above and below water. The side slopes will be covered
with a pit run sand and gravel shell approximately 2 feet in thickness." The proposed future
use of the affected lands is recreational and water storage reservoirs.
3. The mine and reclamation plan also specifies "This operation will be carried out in a
semi-wet condition. There will be virtually no disruption of the prevailing hydrological
conditions during the life of the mine. During mining and reclamation, all applicable
Colorado water laws and regulations governing injury to existing water rights will be
complied with".
4. The operator was actively ciewatering and conducting dry mining at the time of inspection.
The operation was not being carried out in a "semi-wet" condition. And, there certainly
appeared to be potential for disruption of the prevailing hydrologic balance in the affected
land and surrounding area. Current disturbances at the Nyholt Pit include the following:
Stage 1
Plant site
3.5 acre unlined tailings impoundment w/ exposed groundwater, water estimated at 12' deep
and 13' below ground surface (would require 124,201 cu.yd. to backfill to 2' above
natural groundwater surface)
2.5 acre unlined fresh water pond with groundwater pumped from adjacent excavation, water
estimated at 3' deep (would. require 20,162 cu.yd. to backfill to 2' above water surface)
unlined outlet ditch to S. Platte river, estimated at 3' deep x 3' wide x 900' long (would
require 500 cu.yd. to backfill to 2' above water surface)
Stage 2
50-acre cell mined to shale bedrock and reclaimed to water storage reservoir with lined pit
walls, not yet inspected and certified by OSE for leakage criteria, contained 1-2'