INSPEC26257

• Permit No: M1999117
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 3/2/2000
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 2/22/2000
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• (Page 21 •
MINE ID k OR PROSPECTING ID JJ M-1999-117
INSPECTION DATE 2/22100 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO
OBSERVATIONS
This inspection was performed by the Division as a preoperation inspection of an application fora 112 Construction
Materials permit. The operator was contacted about the inspection and a time was arranged to meet at the site. The
operator named on page one was present throughout the inspection.
The site of the proposed 112 permit area is presently about 79 acres of gently sloping rangeland mainly, with small areas
occupied by farmstead buildings, irrigation ditch, dirt road and seedling tree plantings. The proposed mining plan is for eight
phases of less than ten acres each to be excavated across the site. The land presently occupied by the tree plantings, ditch
and dirt road will not be excavated. The house and other farm buildings may be affected during one of the phases in the
future, but in the near term will be utilized for a pit office and related facilities. There is a domestic well in the farmstead
area, which presently serves the water needs of the household, livestock, and the drip irrigation for the tree plantings.
The site is owned by the applicant, except for several easements crossing the land. A CDOT highway right-of-way
easement crosses the south edge of the property; a ditch easement also extends across the south, immediately north of
and adjoining the highway r-o-w. The McCormick Ditch (crossing the south edge of the land) is an intermittently used
unlined ditch. It is culverted where it passes under the access road.
Newly installed electric service now exists at the site. The farm buildings had been served in the past by overhead electric,
with poles and lines entering the site at the southeast corner and extending north along the east boundary to a point
adjacent to the house. That last pole contained the transformers. The new addition to this service has extended the lines
and poles northward along the east boundary to a point on the east boundary of "Phase 4" of the mining Plan las the
phases are defined in the initial application). The last pole there now contains three transformers for the necessary 440V
needs of the proposed mining/processing operation. The operator has stated that these structures are within a REA
easement and no excavation will occur within 40 feet of the poles.
The property is fenced on all sides, with the fences jointly owned by the applicant and that respective adjoining landowner.
Fences vary somewhat, but generally consist of barbed wire and/or woven field fence, with steel T-posts and/or wood
posts. Except for the CDOT r-o-w fence, all are in various stages of disrepair. There is a setback distance between
excavated areas and the fencelines on all sides, described in the permit application.
Access to the site for mining purposes will be directly via Highway 112 to the existing private road, which enters the
property at its southeast corner. The road extends along the east edge of the property, and is presently about 30 feet wide,
to allow haul trucks to pass. The road is not constructed of built~p road base, but has been bladed into the native surface.
Reclamation of the road will consist of reducing its width to one lane (15 feet wide) and the ripping and planting of the
other lane. No fill will have to be removed.
The land slopes generally toward the northeast. Portions of the land have been levelled and used for farming in the past,
with other areas only grazed. A few low areas obviously collect runoff, but do not appear to consist of wetlands or even
ephemeral drainageways. The surface soils are silty and cobbly. The site is droughty, and supports only thin vegetation.
Much of the site is covered by kochia, with scattered patches of grass. Salvaged topsoil will undoubtedly sprout the same
thick stands of weeds, due to the seeds now present in the soil. Therefore the topsoil stockpiles should be seeded to grass
promptly, weeds eliminated whenever possible, and soil replaced with a minimum of handling. Revegetation during final
reclamation will be a challenge. There is presently a horse pastured here. The horse must be excluded from topsoil
stockpiles and other areas being revegetated, or they will not be successfully revegetated. (Though it is outside this
agency's jurisdiction, it is suggested that the Living Snow Fence on the south also be fenced off.)
After viewing the site, this inspector and the applicant discussed the issues involved in the application. All questions raised
in the Division's review and the applicant's responses will be handled separately from this inspection report. There were
no other items noted or discussed, and no problems at this time. For all questions or responses to this report, please
contact this inspector at the following address or phone: 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango CO 81301; tel
970/247-5193 or fax [phone].