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(Page 21 MINE ID JJ OR PROSPECTING ID tJ M-1976-032 INSPECTION DATE 5-25-2000 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS OBSERVATIONS This was a routine partial inspection conducted to evaluate the site in preparation for recalculation of the reclamation cost estimate, as well as to update the unresolved situation regarding the previous mining illegally conducted on property belonging to the U.S. Forest Service. The mine identification signs and permit boundary markers were in place, though a few markers have been removed or destroyed and should be replaced. The majority of the site remains unchanged because of the non-mining status of the operation. The operator continues to import all material for processing into concrete. No excavation appears to take place on site. The operator does import some material that is dumped on the east side of the operation, just south of County Road 625. This fill contains an assortment of materials such as sod, rock, soil, aged asphalt, broken concrete, cinder blocks, bricks, and poured concrete that was apparently wasted out of the operator's mixer trucks. A pile of soil on top of this fill was apparently being screened and used on one of the operators contracts. The operator is reminded that any material imported as permanent fill must be addresses in a notice to the Division, as required by Rule 3.1.5 191. Several drums and 5 gallon buckets of petroleum products and other hazardous materials were noted outside the shop building. These and all other hazardous materials must be removed from site, or stored in adequate spill containment structures. There is a locked steel shed mounted on skids placed in front of the waste oil facility. If hazardous materials are stored in this shed, they must also be moved into an adequate spill containment structure. There are some patches of Canada thistle on site. Two significant patches are located behind the waste oil containment area and on the topsoil stockpile. These, and all other noxious weeds on site, need to be identified and controlled. The topsoil stockpile needs to be revegetated to help stabilize it against additional weed infestation and erosion. There are some piles of used heavy equipment tires and stumps located near the settling pond. The operator piles these materials prior to loading and hauling them off-site for disposal. Piles of stumps were also noted on site during the previous inspection. The Division will include a task in the reclamation cost estimate to account for disposal of such materials. The sediment pond was discharging clear water at an estimated 1 /4 cubic feet per second. The old placer tailings cleanup area that was mined for gravel in the late 1980's and early 1990's has been regraded to approved specifications with the San Miguel River routed into the old channel, with slopes of 3:1 or less. The area was to be seeded upon completion of regrading. However, the Division has no records indicating that this seeding ever occurred. Success of the seeding effort is not a criteria for reclamation of this area, as it was not vegetated prior to mining, but the seed application is a requirement of the approved reclamation plan. Upon completion of seeding the old placer tailings area, it is recommended that the operator apply for release from reclamation responsibility for this portion of the permit area. The Division has not received any documentation regarding right of entry for Telluride Gravel to access the U. S. Forest Service property on the southeast side of the permit area to perform mining or reclamation operations. This documentation, as well as a technical revision regarding proposed mining and/or reclamation operations for the USFS property, were to be submitted by October 19, 21993 as part of a corrective action. The operator indicates that his has not been feasible due to lack of action by the USFS to provide right of entry, or a plan of action for this area. However, the operator has been importing and dumping soil material on the USFS property for the past three years, in an effort to create a flood plain for the San Miguel River. This is reportedly being conducted under verbal agreement with the USFS. In fact, the operator indicated that much of the work on USFS property was conducted with USFS employee Craig Grother on-site. Telluride Gravel indicated they did not know if a 404 permit was required for this operation, but they assumed the Forest Service had obtained one if it was necessary.