_INSPECTION - M1977315

• Permit No: M1977315
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DMG
• To: Bestway Paving Company
• Inspection Date: 12/4/2002
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 2)
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-1977-315
INSPECTION DATE: 17/4/02 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: TAS
OBSERVATIONS
1. A monitoring inspection of Bestway Paving's"Pit No. 1"was conducted as part of the Division's 4-year inspection
program. Present during the inspection was Carl Hill.
2. All mining has been completed at Pit No. 1 and a significant amount of reclamation work has already been completed.
Pit No. 1 was originally permitted for a total of 75 acres. On May 3, 1995 a total of 6.5 acres in the northeast corner
of the permit area was released from further reclamation responsibility via SR-001. This 6.5 acre area includes the
administration building, maintenance shop, asphalt batch plant, and various other buildings and storage tanks. (A
copy of Exhibit C depicting the 6.5 acre release area is attached to this report). The operator is still responsible for
reclamation of the remaining 68.5 acres. The reclamation plan specifies measures to reclaim the site to residential
and industrial/commercial use. The reclamation plan also includes provisions for creation of a 6 acre groundwater fed
lake in the western portion of the permit area. However,the plans for excavation of the lake have not been initiated.
The operator has posted a financial warranty of$61,025 in the form of a corporate surety. Based on the existing
disturbance it appears that the financial warranty is adequate to complete the terms of the reclamation plan.
3. With the exception of a small corner in the northwest corner of the permit area, all pit walls have been successfully
regraded to a 3:1 slope, topsoiled, and revegetated in conformance with the reclamation plan. Portions of the pit
floor area have also been topsoiled and revegetated. (The approved reclamation plan specifies respreading of topsoil
and revegetation of the pit floor area). Other portions of the pit floor have been covered with a layer of fine gravel
and also contain product stockpiles. Some non-revegetated areas of the pit floor are currently being used for truck
and equipment storage. At the time of inspection, the eastern half of phase 6 and 12 or approximately 12 acres was
receiving fill material from an outside source. Mr. Hill explained that this area had previously been topsoiled and
revegetated. Also, there is a small pond, approximately 0.2 acres in size, with groundwater that was exposed after
December 31, 1980. There is no evidence of a temporary substitute supply plan as would be required by the Office of
the State Engineer for this evaporative loss. Mr. Hill explained that the pond will be backfilled within the next 60 days
to avoid any problems with evaporative loss and Senate Bill 120, Mr. Hill and this inspector estimate approximately
32 acres of pit floor are still in need of topsoiling and revegetation. In the event that the operator wishes to change
the reclamation plan for the pit floor to allow for other methods of stabilizing the pit floor, the operator would need to
submit an application for a technical revision to the reclamation plan.
4. Mr. Hill explained that the City of Greeley will be making some significant changes to Pit No. 1 within the next 12-24
months including installation of hydrologic structures for the purpose of flood control, ie: a concrete slide structure
near the top of reclaimed south pit wall and a retention pond in the pit floor to help provide storage for a 100-year
flood. This inspector notes that these changes are not included in the approved reclamation plan. Following
installation of these structures, the city will regrade-disturbed-pit walls to a 4:1 slope. Mr. Hill-expressed a desire for
a financial warranty release for these reclaimed areas prior to implementation of the the City of Greeley's plans. In
the event that a release for these areas is not granted prior to the City of Greeley activities, the operator will need to
revise the reclamation plan to include the hydrologic structures and features planned by the City of Greeley. Various
options for processing such a warranty release request were discussed with Mr. Hill.
S. Signs and markers were in place as required by Rule 3.1.12.
6. There were a several large stockpiles of recycled asphalt and a number of structures in the northwestern portion of
the permit area. Mr. Hill reported that all stockpiles, structures, tanks, and equipment in this area will be removed
from the site during final reclamation. The structures noted at the time of inspection include a tool shed with
concrete slab, concrete redi-mix building with concrete slab, 3 large asphalt storage tanks, 6 fuel tanks, and a variety
of non-roadable mining equipment. It was assumed at the time of inspection that all of these structures occur within
the remaining 68.5 acres to be reclaimed according to the approved plan. It would be helpful for the operator to
delineate the boundaries of the 6.5 acres already released so as to know which areas are still in need of final
reclamation. An accurate demolition cost for existing structures within the 68.5 acres could also be determined.