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~~_ ~ (Page 21 • 1 MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-96-089 INSPECTION DATE 01/29!97 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ~RCO OBSERVATIONS This was apre-operation inspection performed by the Division as.a result of a 112 permit application submitted by the applicant. Mr. Skoglund was contacted about the inspection, and was present during the inspection. An adequacy review of the permit application was performed by the Division, and an adequacy letter was sent. The operator's response was received by the Division and also reviewed. These issues were discussed onsite during the inspection. The site was first viewed from the northwest corner, where the required notice of future permitted mining was posted. The entire permit area is fenced, which will serve not only to exclude livestock from reclaimed areas but also to delineate the permit boundary. The site is bounded on the north by the edge of the county road right-of-way ICR 66T1~ An entrance to the site exists toward the northeast corner of the 30-acre permit area, but a new one will be constructed at the northwest corner. The new one will be a gate in the fence, and will remain after reclamation. The site has previously been mined, predominantly in the northeast and central portion of the site. The large, shallow depression resulting from earlier mining is somewhat reclaimed presently. There are graded and topsoiled slopes, much of which appear adequately revegetated. There are still several stockpiles of material onsite, on the north side of the old pi[ and in the pit. Some material remains from the Bureau of Reclamation's Closed Basin Project (completed!, and other material belongs to Saguache County (removal is still allowed under a MLRB Declaratory Order!, and will be removed soon. The unmined areas which have been disturbed by stockpiling (north of old pill will mostly be mined by the applicant, and will therefore probably not be reclaimed by the county. The B.O.R. left a scraper pile of topsoil and overburden on the north pit rim, and this material could serve in the reclamation of the site, with or without screening out the cobbles. There is a small erosional feature in the southeast corner of the old pi[, where water from a private ditch outside of the eastern boundary fence escapes the ditch and crosses into the permit area, eroding the slope as it enters the pit. Gullies are two to four feet deep. Gully rehabilitation and ensuring the future competency of the ditch were discussed. The sediment washed into the pit is distributed across the south edge of the old pit floor. It is currently supporting a good crop of russian thistle. Some of this material could be scooped up to use as topsoil on other areas to be affected in the pit. The operator should be aware that all areas which become redisturbed as part of his current permitted activities must be reclaimed, including any gully rehab, topsoil borrowing, etc. The material stockpiles were not shown on the application maps as pre-existing features, but the maps are adequate. Other application and map features checked onsite include: the old pit and its surrounding reclamation, present vegetation, drainage patterns, and structures. The old pit shows recent disturbance in the northeast corner. The operator stated that this is where his excavation will commence, and move west. The unmined bench north of the old pit is the primary area to be mined; nothing south of the pit will be disturbed. Topsoil and subsoil will be scraped down to the "color break" and stockpiled along the margins of the pit. Enough space along the inside of the perimeter fence will be left to push stockpiled soil back onto the regraded slopes when reclamation occurs. Existing vegetation consists mainly of rabbitbrush, blue grams, Indian ricegrass, and some yucca. All is uniformly distributed in a thin cover over the site. The new pit depth will be a continuation of the present depth, with the pit floor draining to the west. The pit will not daylight on the west. Mining sideslopes will be left at 4:1 , in preparation for reclamation. Reclamation will be continually ongoing in those areas which are not to be redisturbed. A new entrance gate and access road will be constructed from the northwest corner. This perimeter fence belongs to the BLM, and evidence of permission to affect their fence must be provided before the new gate is installed. Likewise, since mining will occur within 200 feet of the fence, the damage agreement with BLM should include the entire fence. If constructing a new entrance involves placing fill material and/or a culvert in the county borrow ditch, there should be an agreement submitted between the operator and the county too. The agreements should indicate whether the changes or structures are to remain after reclamation is completed. The operator was encouraged [o provide information as to any reclamation agreements which exist between the BLM and/or Saguache County and the operator of this pit. Reclamation cost calculation was discussetl, as far as what types of tasks, equipment, materials volumes and push distances are involved. This inspector will prepare a preliminary estimate, based on the submitted reclamation plan, for the operator's review. There were no other items discussed, and no problems noted. If the operator has questions about this report or the application, he can contact this inspector at: Division of Minerals and Geology, 484 Turner Dr., Bldg. F, Ste. 101 ,Durango CO 81 301. The phone is 970/247-5193.