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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-77-436 <br />INSPECTION DATE October 27, 1999 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS TAS <br />1. A site inspection was made of the Tower Pit No. 1 located approximately 1.5 miles south <br />of Brighton along Riverdale Road and immediately west of the South Platte River. The 112 <br />permit for the Tower Pit No. 1 was transferred from D.H. Holding, Inc. to CAMAS Colorado, <br />Inc. on'March 10, 1999. Representatives of CAMAS Colorado, Inc. (CCI) present during the <br />inspection included Pat Ward, Mark Helm, Curtt Coppage, and Jamie Wilkins-Gaborio. The <br />purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the water management system, existing pit <br />conditions, and any outstanding permitting issues. <br />2. The Tower Pit is permitted for approximately 143 acres. Originally, the site was <br />permitted for 354.5 acres which included disturbances both east and west of the South Platte <br />River. As of September, 1990 all permitted acreage east of the South Platte River was <br />released from further reclamation responsibility. The current financial warranty is $58,000. <br />(This was the amount of financial warranty required by the Division in 1998 to reclaim <br />mining disturbances existing at that time). Review of the permit file and mine plan <br />indicates that the operation is approved for wet mining methods with no dewatering. The <br />primary post-mining land use for the 143 acres is recreation. Two lakes will be developed <br />consisting of 75 and 36 acres. A secondary post-mining land use is residential home sites. <br />3. The 31 acre pit previously mined by Dave Hammer of D.H. Holding has been allowed to fill <br />up with groundwater. There is still evidence of significant erosion on the east slope of the <br />pit. Mr. Ward indicated that CCI may complete reclamation of this pit within the next 12 <br />months. This will require dewatering of the pit and shaping Pit slopes to the desired <br />reclamation slopes. Mrs. Gaborio indicated that CCI has submitted a new application for a <br />temporary substitute supply plan for the Tower Pit No. 1 in 1999. The application was <br />submitted in conformance with requirements of the Office of the State Engineer to mitigate <br />for evaporative loss of exposed groundwater. <br />4. A significant amount of non-roadable mining equipment present in 1998 has been removed. <br />This inspector estimates that only 20~ of the equipment remains. With the exception of the <br />non-roadable mining equipment, there did not appear to be any additional disturbances or <br />additional reclamation work performed in the disturbed areas noted by the Division in 1998. <br />6. CCI has relocated the fuel tanks and Tube station to the west side of the water filled <br />pit. The operator has established a liner beneath the Tube station trailer. The Division <br />appreciates the diligence of the the operator in relocating these facilities to a more <br />appropriate location. The Division also requests that the operator establish a berm or <br />containment bunker for the fuel tanks that will be adequate to contain the volume of fuel <br />present in the event of a leak or spill. <br />7. Active mining was taking place in the eastern portion of the Parcel E area at the time of <br />inspection. Representatives of CCI estimated the disturbance to be 11 acres. The <br />disturbance consisted of a rectangular shaped pit excavated down to bedrock and topsoil <br />stockpiled to the west. Mr. Coppage verified that the permit boundaries had been identified <br />and marked prior to mining disturbance in this area. The pit was being mined using dry <br />mining and dewatering techniques. Mr. Ward indicated that CCI's preference is to use dry <br />mining and dewatering techniques rather than wet mining techniques at the Tower Pit No. 1. <br />Groundwater flows were being conveyed along [he western floor of the pit in a dewatering <br />trench to a sump area, then collected and pumped to an approved discharge point. Mrs. <br />Gaborio indicated that CCI has secured an NPDES water discharge permit with three (3) <br />designated water discharge locations from the Water 4uality Control Division of the Colorado <br />