INSPEC30057

• Permit No: M1985026
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DMG
• To: Coulson Excavating Company Inc.
• Inspection Date: 6/27/2003
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 2)
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1985-026
INSPECTION DATE 6/27/03 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ESC
OBSBRVATION3
This was an inspection of the Challenger Pit conducted by Erica Crosby of the Division of
Minerals and Geology. Richard Coulson of Coulson Excavating was present during the
inspection. The inspection was conducted at the request of Thomas Honn of Thinc. on
behalf of the new property owners who are in the process of developing a small subdivision
north of the active mining operation. The request regarding the status of the mining
operation was received by the Division on May 19, 2003.
The Challenger Gravel Pit is located 2 miles north of Johnstown and 3 miles east of I-25
and is adjacent to the Big Thompson River. An 112c Mining and Reclamation Permit was
issued on August 27, 1985. The permit was amended (AM-O1) in 1999 that reduced the permit
area to 66 acres and changed the mining technique from wet mining to dry mining. The_
-- pastmining-land use is"pasfuielahd and-the Division holds a financial warranty in the
amount of $20,241.00.
The Challenger Pit is divided into two regions, Phase I and II. Phase I consists of an
undisturbed wetland area and a reclaimed pond. The reclaimed pond intersects the Big
Thompson River. River water enters the pond from the northwest and exits on the south
end. In 1985, the Division approved mining and creating a pond within the Big Thompson
River. Division records indicate that the pond was actually mined in 1997, but fell under
regulatory authority of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The site has since been reclaimed
to a riparian habitat.
Phase II has been mined to 3h:ly slopes and material has been stockpiled for future use.
The Operator stated that mining is complete, and the stockpiled product will be hauled out
completely by the fall of 2003. Pit slopes are at 3h:ly, so minor backfilling is required
to achieve the overall grade of the pond. Final grading, topsoil replacement and
revegetation of the disturbed area are still required. In addition, the reclamation plan
states that three small ponds will remain once mining is complete (Reclamation Plan Map-
Exhibit F dated August 28, 1998). However, the operator plans on constructing only two
lakes in Phase II, one small and one large. This anticipated change to the reclamation
plan will need to be submitted as a revision to the permit. The revision must be filed no
later than September 1, 2003. Please see page 3 for additional information.
A total of 4 open gravel pit lakes with approximately 20 acres of exposed surface is
proposed under the existing reclamation plan. The operator will need to submit a copy of
an approved Substitute Supply Plan ("SSP") or Augmentation Plan issued by the Office of
the State Engineer ("OSE") in order to demonstrate that the postmining land use of can be
achieved. A copy of the approved plan demonstrating compliance with OSE must be submitted
to the Division by September 1, 2003.
The mine sign was not posted at the entrance to the site. The sign was knocked down and
located in the brush. Rule 3.1.12 of the Construction Materials Rules and Regulations
require the mine sign to be posted and visible from the road. The operator will need to
repost the sign, and submit proof in the form of photographs by September 1, 2003.
I & S Contact Address
^ CE
NAME Mr. Richard Coulson ^ BL
OPERATOR Coulson Excavating Co., Inc. ^ FS
STREET 3609 N. CR 13 ^ HW
CITY/STATE/ZIP Loveland, CO 80538 ^ HMWMD (CH)
^ SE
^ WQCD (CH)
Cc: Carl Mount; DMG (via e-mail)
Thomas Honn; Thinc.
Sheri Lockman; Weld County (via Fax [phone])