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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1980-246 <br />INSPECTION DATE 8/19/04 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO.HHP <br />This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112c permits. The operator's <br />representative was contacted about scheduling the inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present <br />during the inspection. <br />The required permit ID sign was posted near the entrance to the site. Most of the permit boundary is adequately marked by <br />fencelines. The site was active at the time of the inspection. Processing of stockpiled material and hauling were occurring, as <br />well as installation of a new portable scale and scale house. <br />There is a lot of household and/or agricultural-related trash dumped down a ravine above the drainageway within the east <br />boundary of the permit Qust north of the new scale location). There are also a lot of non-mining-related equipment and parts <br />placed within the northern end of the permit area. These items are not in compliance with the approved mining or reclamation <br />plans in the permit. The trash must be removed from the site and disposed of in an approved facility. The parts and equipment <br />must be removed from the permit area, and until that occurs, the bond amount will be increased to cover the removal costs. <br />This condition is considered a problem in this report. Please see the last page for the corrective action. <br />Topsil is stripped prior to mining, and has been stockpiled in several locations of the permit. The topsoil stockpiles in the north <br />end of the permit are too close to the highwall areas. Some topsoil has already sloughed off the stockpile and other topsoil is <br />currently perched at the edge of the highwall in danger of sloughing. The approved plan requires topsoil to be stockpiled and <br />protected for later use in reclamation. Soil degradation and erosion are not in compliance with the approved plan. The topsoil <br />must be pulled back or otherwise moved from its current location, and either placed upon areas being reclaimed, or to a <br />protected location and placed in a pile with stable configuration. Topsoil must be seeded if it is left longer than one year in the <br />stockpile. This soil condition is considered a problem in this report. Please see the last page for the corrective action <br />The operator has apparently been treating the thistles scattered on the site, with some success. However, the operator is <br />allowing many parts of the disturbed area, amounting to about one acre and including some topsoil stockpiles, to support <br />stands of knapweed (species undetermined). This appears to be a relatively new infestation, since no stands were observed <br />that appear older than 2 years. Knapweeds are noxious weeds and are required to be controlled or eliminated. The operator is <br />the landowner, and is the party responsible for such control. The operator must prepare (with the assistance of a qualified <br />weed expert) and submit a new weed control plan to this office. The plan must address how the knapweed will be controlled <br />onsite, including how the infested topsoil will not contaminate further areas when it is spread during reclamation. Until the <br />weeds are controlled, the cost of their treatment must be added to the bond amount. This infestation is considered a problem <br />in this report. Please see the last page for the corrective action. <br />The same area presently containing some of the non-mining-related parts and equipment also contains numerous barrels of <br />what appears to be waste oil. The barrels have spilled some of their oil, and has contaminated some soil. The large diesel <br />tank holding fuel for the processing and earthmoving equipment is not installed in a location that includes impermeable <br />secondary containment. Though there may not have been a spill or leak, the potential exisits for significant contamination of <br />soil or groundwater. The operator must remove all waste oil from the site and dispose of it in a proper location (could include <br />the waste oil burner at the offsite shop), and adequately dispose or treat all oil-contaminated soil (spreading it over onsite roads <br />and "tilling" it was discussed as a reasonable option). If the diesel tank is to remain onsite, it must be placed within an <br />impermeable secondary containment structure of at least 115% capacity. Though not observed, if there are other <br />hydrocarbons stored onsite, they must also be stored in such a containment structure. Both the oil and fuel situations are <br />considered a problem in this report. Please see the last page for the corrective action. <br />The operator stated during the inspection that he would be interested in amending the permit to include the southern point of <br />land, presently outside the boundary, so that it could also be mined to leave a larger, flatter area after mining. The necessary <br />forms consist of a 112c application (amendment) form, copies of which are included in the operator's copy of this report. <br />No further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to the Division of <br />Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Bob Oswald; phone no.970-247-5193. <br />