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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1990-070 <br />INSPECTION DATE 4/8/04 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS WHE <br />This inspection occurred as part of DMG's routine monitoring of permitted operations. Mr. Louis Girodo, San Juan <br />County Road Department, was contacted prior to the inspection but could not participate due to conflict in schedule. <br />One photo, taken during the inspection, is attached to this inspection report. <br />Snow cover, approximately 4 foot depth or greater covered much of the permit area. Mine identification sign was <br />posted near the mine entrance. However, due to snow depth DMG could not verify whether the permit boundary <br />was appropriately delineated. Please ensure that the permit boundary is appropriately delineated in accordance <br />with Construction Materials Rule 3.1.12(2). <br />The Eureka Gravel Pit is approved for 3 acres affected area. Affected lands will be reclaimed to support rangeland <br />post-mining land use. According to the approved mine plan, material was to be removed from the base of an <br />alluvial fan while maintaining a 3H:1 V and/or 4H;1 V slope. Mining activities were to push material downslope from a <br />previously established bench in the fan. The bench was described as being 400 feet long and located <br />approximately 60 feet above the base of the fan. Apparently, mining activities removed the bench but have <br />continued by excavating material from the toe of the slope. The result of excavation at the toe of slope has <br />produced steep slopes, visually estimated at 1 H:1 V and steeper. A slump scarp was observed approximately 200 <br />feet above the toe of slope, sloughing of material below the scarp was active during the inspection. The scarp of <br />approaches County Road 25, located approximately 300 feet above the excavation activity. County Road 25 <br />provides public access into Eureka Creek drainage and Sunnyside Basin. The existing maps in the permit file are <br />of insufficient detail to verify whether the slump scarp is located within the permit boundary. <br />Previous DMG inspection reports have informed the operator that over-excavation must be avoided and have <br />identified the potential for destabilizing the slope and potential for off-site damage to County Road 25. On June 29, <br />2001, DMG received correspondence from San Juan County, dated June 23, 2001, which states that the 4H:1 V <br />slopes described in the original permit were actually 1 H:4V slopes but that San Juan County would revise their <br />permit to correct previous errors. As of the date of this report, DMG has not received the revision to the original <br />permit application. Typically, DMG requires a geotechnical stability exhibit, per Rule 6.5, for applications involving <br />slopes steeper than 2H:1 V. However, DMG did not require a geotechnical stability exhibit during review of the <br />original application, presumably because the application indicated 3H:1 V and 4H:1 V slopes. <br />DMG has previously requested updated maps of the permit area. As of the date of this report, DMG files do not <br />contain updated maps, which conform to the basic map requirements of Construction Materials Rules 6.2.1(2), <br />6.3.3, 6.3.4, and 6.3.5. <br />Problems and possible violations observed during the inspection, and their corrective actions, are clarified on page <br />three of this report. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to the Division of Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino del <br />Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Wally Erickson, phone no. 970-247-5469. <br />I & E ContactAddress <br />NAME <br />OPEAATOR <br />STREET <br />CITY/STATE/ZI P <br />Louis K. Girodo <br />San Juan County <br />1512 Greene Street, Box 466 <br />Silverton, CO 81433 <br />cc: Harry Posey, DMG <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />p HMWMD (CH) <br />^ SE <br />^ WOCD (CH} <br />^ OTHER <br />