INSPEC29085

• Permit No: M1977071
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 8/27/2004
• Doc Name: Insp Rpt
• From: DMG
• To: Lake County
• Inspection Date: 8/27/2004
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 2)
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1977-071
INSPECTION DATE 8/27/04
INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ESC
This was an inspection of the Half Moon Pit conducted by Erica Crosby of the Colorado
Division of Minerals and Geology. Brad Palmer of Lake County Road and Bridge and Lake County
Commissioner Kenneth Olsen were present during the inspection.
The mine site is located 6 '/~ miles southwest of Leadville in Lake County, Colorado. A 112
Conversion Application (CN-O1) was approved on April 5, 1999 that increased the permit area
from 9.9 acres to 23.60 acres. Amine sign was posted with all of the required information.
The site consists of a working pit area, subsoil piles, topsoil piles and a working area
containing an asphalt batch plant.
The highwall located on the west side of the pit extends along the western permit boundary
and is approximately 30 feet to 40 feet high. Along topsoil pile extends along the majority
of the western highwall, for a distance of approximately 500 to 700 feet. The pile varies in
height from 3 feet to 15 feet. According to the operator, the western highwall was extended
by mining two years ago with the removal of 50,000 tons of material. The contractor failed
to move the topsoil piles, and continued mining towards the west. As a result, a portion of
the topsoil stockpile fell into the pit. It appears that between 1/4 and 1/3 of the topsoil
pile was lost to the pit. The pile is located between the highwall and the permit boundary
area, which makes removal of the pile very difficult and dangerous. The operator is unable
to move the pile because disturbance outside of the permit area is required.
The 112 permit requires a topsoil replacement depth of an average of 8". The Division is
unsure if enough topsoil exists on site to meet this requirement. The operator has disturbed
approximately 13 acres to date, which would require approximately 13,982 CY of topsoil. The
operator will need to demonstrate that enough topsoil exists within the permit area
(stockpiles and future areas to be stripped) in order to achieve the e" replacement depth.
The operator will need to demonstrate that enough topsoil is present for reclamation on or
before October 29, 2004. See page 3 for additional information.
If enough topsoil is available for reclamation,. then movement of all or a portion of the
topsoil may not need to occur. However, if there is a topsoil-shortage then the permit
boundaries will need to be amended so that the operator may safely and effectively relocate
the topsoil pile. The operator should be reminded that the stockpiles should be stored in
places and configurations to minimize erosion and located in areas where disturbance by
ongoing mining operations. In addition, piles stored in place for longer than one year must
be stabilized with the planting of annual and/or perennial grasses. If the operator plans to
supplement the site with other materials in lieu of topsoil, then a revision to the permit
reflecting this change will need to be submitted and approved by the Division.
An asphalt batch plant is present on site and is located in the southeast corner of the
permit area. A concrete lined pond was noted, and no spills were evident.
2 & 8 Contact Address
^ CE
NAME Brad Palmer ^ BL
OPERATOR Lake County Road & Bridge ^ FS
STREET PO Box 964, 1200 Hazel Street ^ HW
CITY/STATE/ZIP Leadville, CO 80461 ^ HMWMD (CH)
^ SE
^ WQCD (CH)
Cc: Carl Mount; DMG (via a-mail)