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-• • (Page 2) • MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-80-037 INSPECTION DATE 12-19-96 INSPECTOR.'S INITIALS GSC OBSERVATIONS This inspection was part of a file review in response to a letter from Pioneer Sand Inc. The inspection was conducted with the operator's representatives, Mr. Russell Barger and Jim Striggow. This operation is a limestone quarry in the Ingleside Formation of Pennsylvanian-Permian age. The limestone occurs in layers of approximately 10 to 30 feet thick interbedded with red sandstone. The upper-most limestone layer caps an eastward dipping hogback ridge. Extensive pre-law quarrying occurred along the hogback over essentially the entire permit area between 1905 and 1970. Consequently, the entire hogback in the permit area is covered with loose limestone blocks and `rubble'. The active part of~the permit appears to be in Stage B and possibly in Stage A and appears to cover at least 2 to 3 acres. A portion of the excavation appears to have been covered with process fines and rough graded. The disturbed area was not measured during this inspection. North of the active pit is a quarry that was operated in the 1950's for construction work on Highway 287 according to Mr. Barger. The disturbance south of the active pit looks to be much older, with a good cover of native vegetation. The permit allows, at any one time, 6 acres of active pit disturbance and 10 acres of disturbance under reclamation. Therefore, there does not appear to be a problem with the size of the disturbance. There is some confusion regarding the permit acreage. The permit was originally approved for 66 acres. On 1-28-82, Amendment AM-001 was approved and the permit acreage was changed. According to Exhibit A in the original copy of the amendment application, the total permit acreage was changed to 75 acres. The amendment form identifies the total acreage in the permit as 20 acres. I used the DMG-TIPS Storm Hydro Program to digitize the permit area and calculated the total permit acreage as 77.7 acres. The map I used was `Exhibit C and F, Excavation Plan for Gravel Extraction Site, Ingleside Quarry' revised 9-30-81. The ownership survey on this map is an `L' shaped rectangular. I calculated the total acreage in this area to be 108 acres. The irregular boot shaped area identified as AFFECTED AREA inside the ownership survey was closest to the permit-acreage of 75 acres referenced in Exhibit `A' of Amendment AM-001. The permit boundaries were not marked with permanent man-made markers nor was an entrance sign posted during the inspection. This will need to be done by marking the actual permit boundaries with clearly visible permanent markers such as wood or metal fence-posts so that the permit can be readily identified in the field. After this is completed, a follow-up inspection will be conducted to verify that the active pit and related disturbances are within the permit boundaries. At that time the necessary steps to clarify the permit records will also be determined. (see Problem PB-1) The mining and reclamation plans require that all process fines are to be salvaged for replacement as growth medium during reclamation. The operator and any future operator are reminded that this must be done because the original topsoil was not salvaged during pre-law mining activities. Mr. Barger said that he wishes to remove the southeastern toe of this permit (5 to 30 acres) and the narrow strip east of the north-south access road from the permit. This can be done by requesting a partial release pursuant to Rule 4.16. The operator is reminded that a release can only be granted when the reclamation has been completed for the approved post mining land use, which in this case, 'is listed as improved rangeland and wildlife in the amendment AM-001. The eastern strip can be released since it was not disturbed by mining and meets the poet mining land use. The southeastern toe is apparently being used for industrial or commercial use with an equipment storage building an office building, and a moos rock loadout area. This does not qualify for release. The post ming land use will need to be appropriately changed before this area can be released. To make this change, the operator can submit an amendment to the permit pursuant to Rule 1.10 or a technical revision pursuant to Rule 1.9 with amendment type notice and publication requirements pursuant to Rule 1.6.2.