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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1980-183 <br />INSPECTION DATE 11/20/2006 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS DEG <br />This inspection of Permit Number M-1980-183 (Pit 29) was conducted by Deb E. Gbnima of the DRMS as a result of a citizen <br />complaint. Chuck Persig of Brannan Sand and Gravel was present during this inspection. The pit is located between 132"' and <br />Nome Streets in Brighton, CO, and currently consists of approximately 176.24 acres. This inspection included visits to Pit 29 <br />(M-1980-183), the Worthing Pit (M-1977-526) - (separate inspection report enclosed), and the complainant's home. <br />This inspection resulted from a citizen complaint received by the Division on October 23, 2006 from the adjacent landowners, <br />Bud and Grace Scott. Letters originally addressed to the Office of the State Engineer were also forwarded to the Division by the <br />Scotts. Concerns of the landowners included loss of surface water in nearby First Creek and stress to the grass and trees on <br />their property possibly due to the reduced access to ground water flow. <br />Amine entrance sign designating Brannan Sand and Gravel as actively mining this site is necessary per Rule 3.1.12(2) (see <br />Problem No. 1 and the corresponding corrective action noted on page 4 of this report). <br />The secondary containment area for fuel storage in the active pit area is inadequate (see photo 2). It appeared that fuel and/or <br />oil were being stored at the time of this inspection (see Problem No.2 on pg. 4). All petroleum and/or hazardous material <br />storage tanks on site for any period of time shall have secondary containment. The Operator must supply photo documentation <br />that all hazardous material containers are stored in a proper secondary containment structure or have been removed from the <br />site on or before February 1, 2007. A lined berm must be constructed around non-double-walled tanks to remain on site. The <br />dimensions of this berm must be capable of containing all contents of the tank (when full) plus 10% of the tank's capacity. The <br />liner shall cover the entire basin as a barrier to infiltration. <br />In addition to the aforementioned problems, this inspection of Pit 29, the Worthing Pit, and the landowner's property also <br />confirmed that there are damaging off-site impacts to the adjacent landowner's property. The grass and trees on the neighbor's <br />property showed signs of stress (see photo 4). These impacts appear to have been caused by changes in the surrounding <br />historic hydrologic balance, including the reduction of surface and ground water, possibly precipitated by the installation of the <br />two-celled slurry wall surrounding Brannan Sand and Gravel's Pit 29 operation. The slurry wall surrounding this operation does <br />not include a perimeter drain structure to facilitate drainage from mounding that maybe occurring at the upland extent of the <br />operation. Based on the pumping information from the adjacent Frei operation (Worthing Pit), the Frei operation is pumping <br />less water. This indicates a lower level of hydrologic recharge. <br />However, it is the Division's belief that off-site impacts occurring on the Scotts property are the result of a combination of <br />factors. It is believed that the immediate drawdown occurring on the Scotts property may be the result of the dewatering <br />activities at the Frei operation that surrounds the Scotts property on 3 sides (north, south, and west). However, the longer-term <br />impacts to the hydrologic balance of the area may be due to interference with the recharge potential, which may be caused by <br />the Brannan operation's (Pit 29) slurry wall. <br />Rule 3.1.6 (1) states that "disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance of the affected land and of the surrounding area <br />and to the quantity or quality of water in surface and groundwater systems both during and after the mining operation and <br />during reclamation shall be minimized." Therefore, Brannan Sand and Gravel must provide data to the Division demonstrating <br />that this operation is not responsible for adversely affecting the hydrologic balance on the adjacent landowner's property. This <br />may be done by a providing the Division with a series of ground water monitoring data from the piezometers on site (see <br />Problem No. 3 on pg. 4) and conclusive evidence that this operation has not destabilized the surrounding ground water level <br />and the hydrologic balance. <br />While the longer term effects of the Brannan Sand and Gravel operation on the adjacent landowner are being investigated, a <br />representative from the W orthing Pit (M-1977-526) has committed to supplying the Scotts with access to water for their trees. <br />There are two options for Frei to provide the Scotts with a readily available water source. This may be done by running a <br />pipeline from one of the pumps at the Worthing Pit and allowing the Scotts to water the portions of their property they deem to <br />be in need, or by providing access to water from a water truck Frei is using on their active operation. It is left up to the discretion <br />of Frei operation management to determine which option to utilize. This commitment is intended to be a short-term solution to <br />reduce further negative impacts to the vegetation on the Scott's property, and compensate for the water depletions occurring. <br />The ultimate solution required must include the equalization and maintenance of the water table such that damage to the <br />adjacent property is limited. <br />