Laserfiche WebLink
~ (Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-87-016 <br />INSPECTION DATE 02/03/2000 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS AJW <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection conducted by Tony Waldron of DMG along with Pete <br />Aragon of Lincoln County. The site is located approximately 24 miles north of Limon, <br />Colorado and approximately 1 mile east of U.S. Hwy 71. The pit is situated in an active <br />tributary channel of Vega Creek and is 2400 feet long and 180 feet wide. The area bordering <br />the pit is typical gently rolling Eastern Colorado rangeland dominated by short grass, <br />predominantly Blue grama. <br />The identification sign was properly posted and contained the required information, however, <br />the permit boundaries were not clearly marked and this will be cited as a problem on page <br />three of this report. There was a bulldozer operating on site at the time of the inspection. <br />The dozer was excavating sand and gravel out of the creek and stockpiling this material along <br />the eastern creek bank. The dozer appeared to be close to exceeding the 180 foot width of <br />the pit and Mr. Aragon indicated that the configuration of the pit did cause some operational <br />problems by trying to work in a such a long narrow area. As a result of this concern, Mr. <br />Aragon indicated that he would like to reconfigure the pit to be shorter and wider, thereby <br />allowing more room for the excavation and hauling equipment to maneuver. It was conveyed to <br />Mr. Aragon that they could reconfigure the pit by going through a full performance warranty <br />release on those portions of the pit they want to delete, and add an equal amount to the <br />area they want to keep. Mr. Aragcn indicated that the county would probably like to delete <br />a portion of their permit area that has not been disturbed and add it to another area, <br />thereby creating a wider area more conducive to the operation of their equipment as well as <br />providing for additional area to stockpile material and load out trucks. This procedure is <br />allowed under a DMG policy memo dated 9/18/98. The policy can be applied when an operator <br />wants to add new acreage by deleting undisturbed acreage from the existing permitted area. <br />The procedure requires a standard reclamation liability release for that portion of the area <br />which will be deleted, and a modified amendment application to revise those portions of the <br />existing application where changes are appropriate such as a new mine plan map, revised <br />reclamation plan, etc. Attached to this report is a copy of the policy for the operator to <br />use as a guideline when completing this procedure. <br />If the operator wants to keep the entire length of the channel that is currently permitted, <br />perhaps a conversion to a 112 would be a better choice. This would allow the entire reserve <br />to be retained and just expand to allow for the additional working area for processing and <br />such. Either way is acceptable to the Division and it is completely up to the operator to <br />decide which option to go with or just live with the current configuration and be careful not <br />to go beyond the permit boundaries. <br />No other problems were noted and this concluded the inspection. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME Pete Aragon <br />OPERATOR Lincoln County <br />STREET P.O. Box 67 <br />CITY/STATE/ZZP Huao CO 80821 <br />,~ ~.~~ 7~"3 y~~ <br /> <br />cc: Jim Stevens <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD (CH) <br />^ SE <br />^ WQCD (CH) <br />^ OTHER <br />