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~, • (Page 2) • MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-79-221 INSPECTION DATE_April 20, 1999 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS TAS 1. A site inspection was made of the Ute Clay Mine in response to a written complain received from Ms. Elfreda Lou Mortensen on March 22, 1999. Present during the inspection was Mr. Michael Leidich of Robinson Hrick Co. 2. Ms. Mortensen raises three (3) concerns in her March 22, 1999 letter: A. Current disturbed acreage vs. disturbed acreage reported in Annual Reports. B. Missing permit file for the Ute Mine at the Division Office in Denver. C. Adequacy of financial warranty for completing relamation of existing disturbance. A. Ms. Mortensen has claimed that her aerial records show that Robinson Brick Co. has disturbed 30 acres at the site and that the number of disturbed acres reported by the operator for years 1991-1998 is 15 acres or less. This inspector conducted a survey of the affected acreage at the site using a Trimble Geoexplorer II GPS unit. The disturbance includes active pit disturbance and partial reclamation totalling 14.7 acres as well as 2.8 acres of reclaimed land. Also, there appears to be several acres or more of "pre-law" disturbance to the east of the active pit disturbance. This pre-law disturbance includes old spoil piles that have revegetated naturally with native grasses and are now stable. Not included in the 14.7 acres of active disturbance is a site access road encompassing 1.62 acres (30' wide x 2354' long). With this information, the Division concludes that the acreages reported by the operator in their Annual Reports are accurate and acceptable. Therefore, the Division considers this concern raised by Ms. Mortensen to be resolved. B. Mr. Leidich provided the Division with a complete copy of the original Regular 112 permit application including mining and reclamation plan maps as well as copies of all other purtenant documents and file correspondence. The Division now has a file for Permit M-79-221 complete with permit document, warranty documents, permit application, annual reports, inspection reports, and correppondence. The Division concludes that the concern over a missing file raised by Ms. Mortensen to be resolved. Further, the Division appreciates the cooperation of Robinson Brick Co. and Mr. Leidich to make the Division's file M-79-221 complete. C. A follow-up field inspection was conducted by this inspector on April 28, 1999 to collect additional information needed to evaluate a current reclamation cost for the existing disturbance. Results of the reclamation cost evaluation and adequacy of the existing $39,000 financial warranty will be included in the upcoming April 28, 1999 report. 3. The entrance sign and permit boundary markers were posted as required by Rule 3.1.12. All disturbances associated with the Ute Mine were found to be well within the 141.8 acre permit boundary. Current active disturbance at the site appears to be in Stages 0 & I of the mine plan. Mr. Leidich indicated that clay mining at the existing pit wall is complete and that Robinson Brick Co. will conduct future mining near the old pre-law test pit to the east (in Stages III & IV). Reclamation of the existing pit wall will be done concurrently with future mining to the east. 9. The topic of exploration drill holes was also discussed. Mr. Leidich inidicated that all test holes drilled at the site occur well within the current permit boundary and have also been backfilled and reclaimed.