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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1984-041 <br />INSPECTION DATE 6-18-2003 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS <br />This inspection was conducted at the operator s request to get input from DMG and BLM regarding recent reclamation of areas <br />disturbed by the original mining operation on the west side of County Road 51. This request for inspection was made because <br />of the operators intent to begin reclamation of over a mile of road that accesses the site. <br />The uppermost section of the old mining area was inspected first. This area has several different age groups of reclamation. <br />Three year old reclamation is doing very well. Several species of perennial grasses and shrubs are well established with a very <br />small component of weedy species. Areas seeded last fall are also well vegetated though the shrub component is not as great. <br />Another area was seeded and mulched earlier this spring with some grasses beginning to germinate, and the last portion was <br />recently seeded and mulched. Streambank, thickspike and crested wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, tall fescue, Russian wild rye, <br />sagebrush, four-wing salt bush, and rabbitbrush were noted. No significant erosional features were noted. The area used to <br />access this location after backfilling, grading and topsoil replacement has been compacted by vehicular traffic. DMG <br />recommended that these areas be ripped or otherwise loosened before reclamation equipment was pulled from the area. The <br />operator indicated that this material will loosen up when they get a significant storm, so no additional tilling should be <br />necessary. <br />The lower section of the old mining area (also inspected 9-17-02) was inspected next. The operator indicated that <br />approximately 100,000 tons of waste material had been hauled to this location, from the active mine, to backfill the old <br />highwalls and benches of the lower section. The material was placed and compacted by dozer and hydraulic excavator. <br />Compacted slopes were completed at an approximate grade of 2H:1 V-2.5H:1 V with a short portion of existing bench exposed <br />at the bottom to provide a stable toe to the slope. <br />The location of an old encrusted waste material dump on a steep slope, was inspected last fall to determine what measures <br />would need to be taken to reclaim that slope. It was determined that the operator.should use an excavator to pull back the <br />crest of the slope, as far down as the excavator boom will reach, reducing the grade of this reworked portion of the slope to <br />approximately 2:5H:1 V and Ioosehing the material, resulting in ah improved seed bed for revegetation establishment. However, <br />the slope was pulled back in its entirety, and tracked horizontally with grousers to deter erosion. This slope was seeded either <br />last fall or earlier this spring and is supporting a fair stand of wheat as a cover crop for the other species in the seed mix. A few <br />of the grasses were noted emerging within the wheat. No significant erosional features were noted. <br />DMG has no reason to delay reclamation of the access road to the upper site, but does recommend ripping of the compacted <br />areas before pulling the road, to enhance revegetation success on these areas. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Steve Shuey at the Division of Minerals and Geology, Grand Junction <br />Field Office, 101 South 3rtl Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone number 970-243-6368. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME <br />OPERATOR <br />STREET <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP <br />Steve Onorofskie <br />American Gvosum Comoany <br />P. O. Box 980 <br />Gvosum, Colorado 81637 <br />cc: <br />^ CE <br />^ BL -Glenwood Springs Office <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD (CH) <br />^ SE <br />^ WOCD (CH) <br />^ OTHER <br />