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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1991-146 <br />INSPECTION DATE 4/9/04 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS WHE <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection occurred as follow-up to the March 2004 Mined Land Reclamation Board discussion of <br />citizens' comments regarding DMG field inspections. Three photos, taken during the inspection <br />accompany this report. <br />Background <br />The original complaint, submitted by Mr. James Patterson on June 10, 2003, stated that "heavy <br />machinery came onto our land last fall to make a build to fail levy...erosion has taken about 100 feet of <br />our property." The Patterson property is south and upstream of the ZMK permit area. DMG investigated <br />this complaint on June 13, 2003. Mr. Steve Ingram, resident at the Patterson property and presumed <br />partial owner, accompanied DMG. In the report generated from the June 13 inspection, the DMG <br />inspector recorded evidence of channel instability but found no problems or possible violations against <br />the permit holder because the available evidence did not prove that the erosion had resulted from mining <br />and reclamation activities conducted by ZMK. In subsequent correspondence, dated November 11, 2003 <br />and received on November 13, 2003, Mr. Patterson remarked that the inspection report provided no <br />evidence that the General Inspection Topics on page one of the inspection report were in fact compliant. <br />DMG staff was of the opinion, and represented as much to Mr. Patterson, that his compliant could be <br />argued before the Board. However, the Colorado Attorney General's Office explained to the Board that <br />citizens and other entities who disagree with the conclusions or observations of DMG staff cannot seek <br />relief through the Board, but would be obliged to seek relief through the civil courts. The Board directed <br />DMG staff to re-examine the property to assure that ali field issues were personally addressed with the <br />complainant. <br />Inspection & Observations of Comalaint Issues <br />The first part of the inspection examined properties south of the ZMK property. Mr. Jim Patterson (the <br />complainant and landowner) and Mr. Scott Williams (an attorney affiliated with the Ridgway-Ouray <br />Citizens Coalition or ROCC) accompanied the DMG inspectors. DMG understands that the Patterson <br />property is held jointly by Mr. Patterson, Mr. Steve Ingram, and perhaps others, or was thus held at the <br />time of the original complaint. <br />The second part of the inspection focused on the ZMK property south of the ZMK permit area, and on the <br />ZMK permit area. The ZMK permit area commences approximately 400 feet downstream (north) of the <br />south boundary of the ZMK property. Permit holders, Mr. Richard Zannet and Mr. Pete Kline, and their <br />consultant, Mr. Robert Larson of Monadnock Mineral Services, accompanied DMG. <br />.The Patterson land at issue comprises aloes-water shelf of the flood plain, bordered on the east by <br />the low-flow channel of the Uncompahgre River, and on the west by a berm approximately 40 to 60 <br />feet from the riverbank. The area reportedly disturbed was approximately two dozer blades wide <br />(east to west) by perhaps 4 dozer lengths long (north to south). (NOTE: DMG Inspectors made no <br />direct measurements for this investigation as they saw no need for such. Dimensions and directions <br />cited in this report are general and approximate, unless otherwise specified. These are based on <br />summary field estimates, and the use of such estimates is consistent with DMG practices for <br />investigations of this sort. All estimates and directions should be construed as only generally <br />representative, but not precise or measured.) <br />