INSPEC27363 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1977-320 INSPECTION DATE 8/29/06 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112c permits. The operator was contacted about the scheduled inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the inspection. The site was not active at the time of the inspection. The site is identified by the required permit ID sign, posted along the county road at the south end of the permit, The permit boundaries are marked. All activity appears to be contained within the boundaries. There has been no disturbance in the "Stage B" area on the east side of the county road. Mining is ongoing along the east and northeast foot of the hill, where claydeposits daylight in layers, and alternate with layers of sandstone. There is a significant amount of topsoil, overburden and sandstoneto remove to fully extract the clay. Material is removed from the hillside, as well as extraction below the grade of the road and operations pad. A narrow slot is being created along the toe of the slope being mined. Stormwater runoff is collected in the slot, and conveyed to a catchment pond at the NW end of the site. No sediment is allowed to be transported offsite. The large volumes of topsoil and overburden are stockpiled along the length of the active phases, between the mining face and the roadway. In one location the deep slot that was being mined is immediately adjacent to the topsoil pile, and it is eroding into the slot. The operator indicated a bench that was created by placement of backfilled overburden and sandstone waste rock, specifically to eliminate the loss of topsoil by erosion and sloughing. However, the bench is far from complete and the topsoil may still fall and be lost in the pit. This is noted as a problem in this report. The correction is to commence this season to backfill that narrow slot sufficient to eliminate the potential for damage to that portion of the topsoil. The operator must complete the earthwork, and send photos of the completed work to this office. See the last page for the correction date. There are no noxious weeds, no onsite hydrocarbons, no junk or debris. The only equipment onsite consisted of an excavator, wheeled loader and dozer. Vegetation onsite included Russian thistle, rabbit brush, and puncturevine (source of "goat heads" ). Though the puncturevine is not a noxious weed, the operator should try to control this annual weed since its seeds remain viable in the soil for decades, and will likely be spread all over the site during reclamation. It is believed that it is being introduced to the site via the thorny seeds in vehicle tires. (The permittee should make the onsite operator aware of this issue also.) The bond has not been recalculated in several years, and this office must once again review the costs. New figures will be forwarded to the operator. If a bond increase is indicated, the operator must provide the increased amount in 60 days. No further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Bob Oswald; phone no. 970- 247-5193. I & E Contact Address NAME Joseph Welte OPERATOR Summit Brick and Tile Co. STREET PO Box 533 CITY/STATE/Z1P Pueblo. CO 81002-0533 cc: Tony Waldron, DRMS ^ CE ^ BL ^ FS ^ HW ^ HMWMD (Ch) ^ SE ^ WOCD (CH) ^ OTHER