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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1977-020 <br />INSPECTION DATE 11-13-2003 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS <br />This inspection was conducted as part of a review by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology of permitted sites <br />that have known wash plant activities (though the wash plant for this pit is located off the permit area and is part of a <br />custom concrete hatching facility). DMG staff are currently reviewing the impact of wash plant operations and mining <br />activities in areas where upper Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks and Tertiary terrestrial deposits derived from erosion of <br />Cretaceous rock sources, (example: Mancos shale and/or Mancos shale derived soils) are disturbed by those activities. <br />The focus of the review is to identify factors that may contribute to increased selenium concentrations being <br />discharged from the site via groundwater and surface water flow. The operator was contacted and apprised of the visit <br />and the reasons surrounding the inspection. <br />The inspector was accompanied by Division Senior Environmental Protection Specialist Harry Posey, Senior <br />Environmental Protection Specialist Carl Mount and Environmental Protection Specialist Russ Means. The Pit No.1 site <br />was selected for this inspection solely on the basis of staff knowledge of an existing, wash plant operation near the <br />permitted area, because the pit mines down to bedrock exposing that material in some areas, and because the pit is <br />dewatered with the water being directly or indirectly discharged to the Gunnison River. <br />No exposed shale was noted within the pit area and the majority of soils found were more coarse than those normally <br />associated with weathered shale. <br />Upon final reclamation, this pit will consist of several groundwater fed, non-discharging lakes. With this in mind, the <br />operator is encouraged to, when possible, place any upper Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks and Tertiary terrestrial <br />deposits derived from erosion of Cretaceous rock sources, away from areas where drainage will concentrate (swale <br />bottoms) or where standing water may collect. This material should also be buried well beneath the surface, but above <br />the water table, to minimize weathering, erosion and leaching of selenium into the groundwater. <br />Access to the pit for this impromptu inspection is greatly appreciated. Thank you. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Steve Shuey at the Division of Minerals and Geology, Grand Junction <br />Field Office, 101 South 3rd Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone number 970-243-6368. <br />I & E Contact Address cc: Carl Mount -DMG Danver Office <br /> ^ CE <br />NAME Brent Kerr ^ BL <br />OPERATOR Oldcastle SW Group, Inc. dba United Companies ^ FS <br />STREET P. O. Box 3609 ^ Hyy <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP Grand Junction, Colorado 81502 ^ HMWMD (CH) <br /> ^ SE <br /> ^ WOCD (CH) <br /> ^ OTHER <br />