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<br />(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-2000-t 73 <br /> <br />INSPECTION DATE: 10-17-00 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: 1i$S_ <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was aPre-Operational inspection done in response to a permit application which has been submitted fora 308 <br />acre permit area. The site is approximately two miles east of Rifle ,Colorado and is north of I-70 and south of the <br />Colorado River. A general tour of the proposed permit area was done ,followed by a more detailed inspection of the <br />proposed Renewable Resource area. The general mine plan was reviewed and the proposed sequence of mining <br />explained. Some areas of concern include adequate engineering studies to demonstrate that the proposed barriers at <br />each end of the Renewable Resource area would be stable under flood conditions, the need to demonstrate that <br />normal flood levels would not result in stream channel capture by the pits, the need for agreements from owners of <br />structures which will be within 200 feet of mining disturbances -such structures include oil and gas wells and <br />pipelines , powerlines, irrigation ditches and roads. The Division requested that the applicant send a 100 year flood <br />plain map of the area to the Division. During the inspection, a heron rookery was observed adjacent to the proposed <br />mining area. The Division will consult with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and with the US Fish and Wildlife <br />Service to determine if any mitigation measures should be taken to protect the rookery. <br />The final item discussed was the decision due date which was originally set for December 19, 2000 (90 days <br />after the receipt of the application. After this Pre-operational inspection and a further review of the application, the <br />Division has made the determination that this is a complex permit application. As defined in Rule 1.1(10) a complex <br />application is an application which may require the Office to involve additional professional staff or outside <br />professional or agency expertise, and is beyond what the Office considers to be a typical application review process <br />for the majority of applications received. At the time of the writing of this report the Division has three staff members <br />reviewing the application. In addition it is anticipated that outside agencies will be consulted. These agencies may <br />include the Colorado Office of the State Engineer, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the U.S. Army Corps of <br />Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the City of Rifle. Therefore, as described under Rule 1.4.1(7) the <br />Division has extended the decision date sixty (601 days. The new decision date is February 17,2001. Since this date is <br />on a Saturday, the date will be extended to Monday February 19,2001. <br />