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• (Page 3) • <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-91-133 <br />INSPECTION DATE 1/15/99 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO <br />The unexcavated area north of the pit is the main stockpile location, and has a large amount <br />of stockpiled material there. It is not clear if these piles have been placed directly on <br />top of the native topsoil. If so, special care should be taken when removing the last of <br />each of these piles, to allow the topsoil to remain onsite. <br />Some small areas appearing to contain topsoil piles were observed. It is not clear if there <br />is sufficient topsoil stockpiled presently to perform the required depth of topsoil <br />replacement, according to the approved plan. The operator must ensure that all stockpiled <br />topsoil is protected, that all topsoil be stripped and stockpiled prior to gravel mining, and <br />that inactive highwalls are not left steep and unstable. Sloughing which would degrade any <br />unstripped topsoil is to be avoided. The reclamation plan calls for revegetation, and <br />topsoil is critical to accomplish this. If there is not sufficient topsoil set aside for <br />~clamation throughout the life of the mine the operator will be bonded for purchasing and <br />importing sufficient topsoil from off site. At present, the topic of "topsoil" is not a <br />problem <br />The stockpiled gravel on the north part of the permit area cover an area of about two acres. <br />This is significant because of the limitation of the size of disturbance (per TR-O1) and <br />because this area may x nd offci The operator stated that another party recently <br />performed some mining, processing and stockpiling activities here. Due to the missing NW <br />corner marker, the exact location of the boundary line and/or amount of possible off site <br />disturbance could not be determined during this inspection. It is absolutely critical, as <br />noted above, that this marker be reinstalled in its correct location. In addition, any <br />stockpiles which are off site must be moved into the permit area. (Please be reminded that <br />off site disturbance may be considered a possible violation by the Board.) At present, the <br />topic of "off site disturbance" is not noted as a problem or possible violation. (Please see <br />below for the description of the submittal of a map, meant to ensure that the operator and <br />Division may determine the true amount of disturbance.) <br />The 'ssue of total acres of disturbance pre~tly approved to be five acres seems at this <br />t'me to be a problem Disturbance by~lefin'tion 'ncludec all excavated areas gravel and <br />Son nil s o kn~~ ar ac n o ss'ng areas e~pment parkins roads scales or ax~other <br />unreclaimed disturbance The file does not seem to contain any recent map_which would have <br />he=n c,t~itted with an annual report or the 1995 technical revision and which would show the <br />pr s n amp of di rban This i a problem also since the oggrator has not reported <br />that the overall disturbance is in excess of five acres. Therefore the topics of "general <br />mine elan compliance" and "records" are noted as problems The corrective action will be to <br />c+ n y and map ail x'c ins di ban f a s o ha he to al amount will be known and <br />rh n to either immediately commence fL~l reclamation on enough acres to reduce the <br />disturbance down to five acres or to again revise the mining and reclamation pin to allow <br />a h'aher amount o£ disturbance The map or accompanyino x m+s in 1 d 'nformation as to <br />rha mo n and to a ion of opcoil o kpi~es Refer to Rule 6 4 for map requirements <br />Please see the last page for the corrective action date. <br />A greater amount of disturbance requires a higher bond amount. At present the actual amount <br />can only be estimated, though a bond increase of some amount is clearly needed. Until the <br />operator submits the map described in the preceding paragraph, this office will estimate the <br />bond increase needed. The revised figures will be sent to the operator, and the increase <br />will be required within 60 days of that time. The operator may influence these numbers by <br />submitting the said map as soon as possible and/or commencing reclamation. At present the <br />required reclamation will include slope reduction to 3:1, pit floor grading, ripping <br />compaction, topsoil replacement (plus purchase?), revegetation, and hauling equipment from <br />Antonito. Until the actual amounts are calculated, the topic of "financial warranty' is not <br />noted as a problem. <br />