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GEC Strip Bond forfeiture Special focus evaluation 2/8/00 Mitchell S. Rollings, 370, OSM Randy Pair, OSM Dave Berry, DMG Larry Routten, DMG This mine site was selected for evaluation as part of a special focus review for off-site impacts associated with bond forfeiture sites. OSM and DMG will evaluate all bond forfeiture sites in Colorado; there aze 14 of these sites. Impacts that are located outside of the azea directly disturbed by the mining operation or off of the area authorized by DMG to be disturbed when the operation was active would be considered an off-site impact. OSM Directive REG-8 was used as guidance to determine the kind of resource, and the type and degree of impact for off-site impacts. People, structures, land, and water resources were observed during this evaluation to determine whether or not anoff-site impact has occurred. The observations made during these evaluations will be reported in OSM's Annual Evaluation Summary Report for Colorado for the evaluation period. This information will be carried forward to future evaluation periods in order to track the number of off-site impacts associated with Colorado bond forfeitures. The record will be adjusted if additional off-site impacts occur, or as DMG continues to reclaim the forfeited properties using bond money, severance tax, etc. Site Conditions This site was reclaimed by a DMG contractor in the mid-90's. All walls were eliminated during the backfilling and grading, but the final configuration has long and steep slopes. The side slopes exhibit signs of extensive rills, but the vegetation appeazs to have matured to the point where most of the rills are stabilizing. The current active erosion is in the bottom of the reclaimed watershed and one gully on the north end of the reclaimed spoil pile. The gully on the north end of the spoil pile developed as a result of outflow from a slight depression neaz the top and east side of the pile. The runoff, and the sediment lost from this gully, empty into the undisturbed drainage on the east side of the pile. The largest, and appazently most active gully, is in the reclaimed bottom of the old East Pit location. Large concrete check dams with wing walls were constructed in this location, but runoff from the reclaimed area has been destructive enough to side cut and blow out these structures.