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• (Page 2) • MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # N-83-178 INSPECTION DATE 02/20/96 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division ae part of its monitoring of 112 permits. The operator was contacted about the inspection but was not present for it. This is a county-operated pit, for which there ie no requirement for a financial warranty or etormwater management permit. There is a performance warranty on file for this permit. This permit was converted last year from a 110 permit to a 112 permit. The 112 permit area is larger than the 110 area. The original markers were obeerved during this inspection, but none of the markers to delineate the boundaries of the 112 permit were not found. The sign identifying this as a MLRB-permitted site was obeerved on the Ft. Lyons Canal gate (which ie the entrance to this site). The lack of clearly visible markers ie noted as a problem on page 1 of this report, with the corrective action explained on the last page. The maps supplied with the conversion application delineated the disturbed areas. These have not changed appreciably during the last year. The one difference noted was a small new pit, separate from the older ones in the south and northwest ends of the disturbance. The new pit is located between the other two. Highwalle are mostly vertical, with heights lees than 10 feet. Some portions of the highwall in the south pit have been reduced to gentler gradients. The north end of the permit has no mining disturbance at all. The file states that there will be little to no topsoil onsite. There is a low pile of material resembling topsoil in the east central part of the permit. If it is, in fact, the topsoil stockpile it should be stabilized against deterioration. Since the site ie accessible to cattle and the pile in question ie very weedy, protecting it should include fencing it off and seeding it to grass. The topic of "topsoil" ie not noted ae aproblem, but it would be appreciated if the operator would clarify whether this pile ie topsoil. On the west edge of the south pit rune a ranch road which also serves to access the north portions of the permit. Future mining on the west wall, or simply the sloughing of unstable parts of the 30-foot vertical highwall there, could intercept the road. The road could very easily be moved toward the west, or the operator could backfill or push material down to stabilize the elope. At the present time, however, traffic along the road may come close to the shoulder of the highwall, causing it to fail. Given as a precaution to the operator, it is suggested that the road be moved, the road edge be marked with a berm or the slope graded. This item ie not noted ae a problem at the present time. Although the trail road described in the paragraph above is not regarded ae a significant structuure, another feature onaite might be. There ie an old windmill tower at the southwest corner of the south pit. The base of the tower ie 6 feet from the top of a 6-foot vertical highwall. Though the windmill ie obviously old and inactive, there may et ill be a usable well there. Documentation of the presence of this feature, or any agreement ae to the liability for its damage, was not found in the file. If such reference was made in the original or conversion application, please provide this office with a copy. Conversely, if the landowner does not regard this as a significant structure, please provide this office with a statement ae to that fact. The mining in the proximity of a structure which may be significant is regarded as a problem under the topic of "records". The corrective actions are explained on the last page. The operator may be well advised to not mine any closer to that tower, regardless of whether it is "significant", simply because of stability concerns. There were no other items noted, nor problems obeerved. I & E Contact Address cc: Jim Stevens/DMG ^ CE NAME Virlev Burkhalter ^ BL OPERATOR Bent County ^ FS STREET Box 350 ^ HW CITY/STATE/ZIP Lae Animas CO 81054 ^ HMWMD (CH) ^ SE ^ WQCD (CH) ^ OTHER