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• (Page 21 • <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-81-013 <br />INSPECTION DATE 7/8/99 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 110 permits and as a <br />result of the operator's submittal of a 112 conversion application, which requires apre-operation inspection. The operator <br />was contacted about the inspection and was present at the site during the entire inspection. The first part of the inspection <br />consisted of inspecting the existing 110 permit; the second part of the inspection was to observe and discuss the proposed <br />112 permit area. <br />The required permit ID sign was pasted at the entrance, and the required permit boundary markers were observed along <br />the boundary. At this time, only the southern access road is used for pit traffic, though an existing northern one may <br />possibly be used for future traffic. <br />The scale and scale house are installed in a different location than where last observed. They are now placed on a pad <br />in the south central portion of the pit. The previous location has been backfilled and graded. The pad was created by level <br />placement of the large quantity of fines once stockpiled in the southern end of the pit. This pad surface is about an acre <br />or more, and about 10 to 15 feet above the deepest part of the floor. After the crusher operates on the pad this season <br />and is removed from the site, the pad material will be mined down to the deeper floor level. (The deeper floor level will <br />then be continued throughout the rest of the pit.) <br />The pit walls are mainly at 1:1 slopes. A small portion of the walls are being reduced to final gradients, mainly on the <br />northeast end. The stockpiled topsoil above that slope will be moved back away from the wall, the slope reduced, then <br />topsoil respread on the slope. There is sufficient area behind the topsoil berm for this to be carried out completely inside <br />the permit boundary. <br />The old pit slopes on the west side, above and below the road, are mainly steeper than 2:1. These walls have not been <br />disturbed in many years and show some degree of stability despite their creep gradient. Much of the slopes are vegetated, <br />some exhibit cobbly material, and there is little erosion evident. Though there is an irrigated field above and west of this <br />area, there is no irrigation water contributing to instability on the slope. There are two overhead power poles along this <br />west edge, whose stability must be ensured. If material erosion or sloughing is observed, remedial activities may be <br />required, such as backfilling or buttressing the slope. <br />West of the road there is a small drainage ditch which conveys runoff water, and protects the road. The slope east of the <br />road drains directly into the sediment pond area of the pit, much of the pond also being well vegetated with woody plants. <br />That slope above the pond is likely to erode, and should be stabilized in the long term. <br />The sediment pond is presently impounding a small amount of water. Water percolates out of the pond. A dirt road <br />crosses the impoundment structure. Additional dirt may be placed there, raising the road grade, but should not affect the <br />amount of water impounded. <br />The "well" in the northeast corner of the pit is still present, and contains water up to the pit floor level. The well will be <br />removed at the time of highwall grading. <br />The proposed areas to be added to the permit under this conversion application ICN-021 were inspected. Most of the areas <br />to be added consist of presently irrigated pasture and hay fields. There are several internal fences, owned by the operator, <br />which divide the additional land, but which do not appear on the maps. These fences will be removed at the time of phased <br />pit expansion, and this matter does not present a deficiency with the maps. <br />The eastern end of the proposed permit area contains the gas wells, fenceline and dirt road. These are each documented <br />in the application. The road and fence belong to the applicant, and will be reconstructed in a new location as needed when <br />the final mine phase reaches that end. <br />The site lies on an upland area between, but well separated from, two side creeks tributary to Plateau Creek. It does not <br />appear that pit operations will directly affect flow in those two creeks. The applicant is documenting potential effects to <br />