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• (Page 2j • MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-99-022 INSPECTION DATE 3/17/99 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This pre-operation inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring program. The 110c application for this site is currently being reviewed for completeness; the technical review has not yet begun. The operator was contacted about the inspection and was present throughout the inspection. (Note: This site was initially inspected as a possible illegal, unpermitted pit. Please see the 5/28/97 inspection of this site, under file M-97-040. This newly numbered file for the new application will replace the previous file number.) The permit area will consist of two separate parcels of land, both of them on land owned by the operator. The southern parcel is the location of an existing irrigation recharge pit. The pit itself is about an acre in size with an irregular bottom ranging in depth from 5 to 10 feet. Topsoil was scraped off the pit area and piled in a berm around the perimeter of the recharge pit. The topsoil has not been reseeded to grass, though the topsoil location may change and a method of erosion protection may be employed after permit issuance. At this time there is no problem. This pit was excavated in 1997, and all the resulting material was stockpiled adjacent to it on the southwest side. A loader was observed removing more material from the pit during this inspection. Newly excavated material is being placed on the existing pile as an upper lift. The surface areas of the pit and the stockpile area are not being enlarged. The material is not being removed from the landowner's property. At this time there is no problem. The stockpile area is level and contains about 5,000 cubic yards of pitrun. It is not readily apparent whether topsoil under the stockpile was scraped away prior to placement of pitrun there. Reclamation of that area will consist of removal of the stockpile and revegetating a prepared seedbed. Some processing may occur adjacent to the stockpile. There is an older model grizzly and hopper/conveyor present. There are not in use yet. The recharge pit, stockpile area and processing area have a combined total area of about 3 acres. Affected areas exhibit a uniform stand of kochia. The site is accessible via existing road on the operator's land. The operator plans to place a small portable scale and office, for use in his agricultural operation and the upcoming gravel operation, along this existing road, near but not inside the proposed permit area boundary. The other area of gravel eMraction lies to the north over half a mile away (approx. 0.75 mile by road). It is on the opposite side of the Rio Grande Irrigation Canal. The operator proposes to install a short bridge to easily access this northern pit area. This will be pursued outside of the DMG permit application process. Construction of the bridge will be necessary to economically mine and haul aggregate from the northern pit. The northern pit area is still undisturbed by mining. The area was roughly indicated as a 6-acre rectangle lying midway up the slope. It lies on a dry hillside, averaging about 15 to 25°h slope. Its surface is sandy with little "topsoil". It supports thin vegetation including blue grams, snakeweed and yucca. The surface is not severely eroded, though steeper slopes or exposed piles may easily erode. At this time, as noted above, there are no problems at the site. The application will soon be completed and be reviewed for technical adequacy. It is not expected that significant changes will be made from the initial application information prior to approval. After review the bond will be calculated. The general range for reclamation costs, including earthwork and revegetation, is about $2,000 per acre. The operator may reduce this figure by mining at gentler slopes, minimizing the amount of disturbed area and performing concurrent reclamation. For all questions or responses to this report, please contact this inspector at the following address or phone: 484 Turner Dr., Bldg. F-101, Durango CO 81301; tel 970/247-5193 or fax 970/247-5104. Cont