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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1977-322 INSPECTION DATE 8/29/06 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 110c permits. The operator was contacted about the scheduled inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the inspection. The site was not active at the time of the inspection. The site was identified by the required permit ID sign posted at the entrance to the site. Permit boundary markers were observed at all boundary corners. Though mining activity is very close to some of the boundaries, all activity is inside the permit boundary. Evidence of the recent rains was observed on the site. Two shallow impoundments were in the pit floor, backed up there mainly due to a "dike" of sandstone material crossing the floor, a remnant of recent extraction. Other than those small impoundments, most runoff appears to report to a stormwater control pond at the southern end of the site. The pond contained runoff water and sediment, and showed several feet of freeboard on the dam. The upstream (northern) end of the site, is located at the mouth of a natural, steep gulch which extends upslope beyond the permit boundary. stormwater runoff from this normally dry creek carries sediment and rocks to the mouth of the gulch, where some of the load is dropped and some is diverted around the NE side of the pit along the road. The roadway is bermed to prevent the runoff from entering the pit. The road is becoming severely eroded, indicating that it has been functioning effectively as a stormwater conveyance structure. However, its utility as a road is now compromised, and the NW and upper W portions of the permit (above the pit) are inaccessible. These aspects of the upgradient drainage and runoff patterns, the road acting as diversion structure, and the roadway erosion are not problems in the context of this report, but are noted here to identify a potential problem: the N and NE highwall, directly below the bermed roadway, shows evidence of a recent small failure of the wall material. More of the wall may fail when the unconsolidated highwall material becomes saturated orwhen the berm fails and drainage enters the pit. Either scenario will damage the roadway and its diversion function, as well as the integrity of the highwall (which is vertical and 30 to 40 feet in height). More importantly, highwall or roadway failure may cause slumping of the cutwall above the roadway to encroach or exceed the N/NE permit boundary. Offsite disturbance, either active or passive, may be a possible violation. The operator is encouraged to remedy the drainage issues along the roadway, and to buttress the N/N E highwall below the road by backfilling waste rock against the wall, to reduce the potential for offsite damage and onsite instability. There is a "reclamation area" high in the W part of the permit, above the ramp road. It appears stable overall, though the road cut below it has raveled a bit. It is graded at about 2:1 or gentler, was topsoiled and seeded. It has minimal erosion and contains well distributed revegetation (saltbush, sideoats grams, western wheatgrass, snakeweed, and globemallow). There is no reclamation evident on the lower portions of the pit, more recently affected. Those areas contain slopes steeper than the reclamation gradient, and are either barren or contain Russian thistle. There is also a small amount of an introduced annual weed - puncturevine, which produces the obnoxious "goathead"thorns. These thorns are the seeds, and are known to remain viable in the soil for up to 40 years. They are often carried to new areas by rubber tires on vehicles and equipment. It is an annual weed, and may be effectively treated by herbicide in early summer before seed formation. The operator is encouraged to monitor and treat these weeds to prevent a larger infestation and later difficulty in reclamation. At this time this is not a problem. The mining is proceeding according to the approved plan. The hill is being mined from the north end, with sandstone layers comprising the waste rock generated while extracting the clay layers. The amount of clay mined is limited, and the operator's time in the pit is infrequent, so it is important that the site is maintained carefully between mining events: salvage topsoil as it is stripped from new areas, control weeds each year during the proper season, grade slopes to prevent erosion, reclaim areas promptly when there is to be no more disturbance there. The bons amount is $11,300. The bond has not been reviewed in several years, and this office must again recalculate the reclamation costs. New figures will be sent to the operator for review. If a bond increase is indicated the operator must provide the increase within 60 days of notification. Cont.