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• (Page 21 • MINE ID rX OR PROSPECTING ID k M-1994-053 INSPECTION DATE 5/4!00 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as apre-operation inspection of the land area proposed to be amended to the existing permit and as a monitoring inspection of the existing 112 Construction Materials permit. The Division was unsuccessful in contacting the operator in advance of the inspection, but was able to meet with the operator by contacting him at the time of the inspection. The operator arrived about 15 minutes after the inspection began, and remained onsite throughout the inspection. The permit was identified by a permit ID sign posted at the entrance to the site. The required posted Notice for this amendment AM-01 was also observed at the entrance. The permit boundaries were observed as steel T-posts. All activity appeared to be occurring inside the permit boundaries. The site was active at the time of the inspection: a truck and loader were removing pitrun from the northern-most highwall. There were several stockpiles of product in the pit. There was no processing equipment on the site. The operation is proceeding toward the north, as the highwall is mined to the west into the hill. The operator stated that there may be another ten feet of gravel depth below the present pit floor elevation, though it might not be mined in the future. Aside from mining additional depth, the mining is completed in the southern end of the permit. The back slopes have almost all been established at the final gradient of 3:1. The slopes have not been topsoiled and seeded yet. Topsoil berms exist above the central portion of the highwall. The stockpile is not seeded, but some of it may be respread this season. The overhead powerline, formerly crossing the length of the permit area, has been moved to a realigned location completely off the permit area. The utility company moved the lines to new poles to the east of the permit, leaving the sawed off stumps of the old poles on top of the unmined islands of material in the permit area. This pole removal was performed between the operator and the utility company (DMEA) and resulted in more efficient material excavation, but did not require any revision of the permit. The areas to be added to the 112 permit were observed. The 9.999 acres presently included in the existing 110 permit IM-1991-096) are included in this amendment AM-01 application. The observations of that area are described separately, in the 5/4/00 inspection report of that permit. The other areas to be added through this amendment, mainly strips of land west of the south end of this 112 permit and north/northwest of the north end of this permit, were also observed. Part of the land is cleared (for agricultural purposes) but most of it is still in native brush (primarily Bagel. Some annual weeds exist, with very little grasses, and no noxious weeds. Topsoil depth increases toward the west. The natural slopes have some soil, but mostly exhibit the cobbly material to be mined. The east-west width of the pit will increase substantially after this amendment. The resulting widened pit floor may still not be wide enough to be reclaimed until mining is finished. The fact that the slopes are continually maintained at 3:1 (final) gradients will help to keep the bond amount low, but pit floor reclamation will also help to do that. It was discussed that until final reclamation of portions of the permit area is completed, adequate bond monies must continue to be posted by the operator for reclamation tasks on those areas. This includes the level, but as-yet untopsoiled and unvegetated pit floor. Eventually much of the western highwalls will cease to exist as the pit expands to meet the western property line and connects to the adjacent permitted gravel pit IM-1994-0971. The AM-01 application includes a notarized agreement between the adjoining permittee (Delta S&G) and Base Products, specifically detailing the future removal of the ridge of material lying between the now-adjoining permit areas, which will produce a continuous pit floor. The areas on the presently permitted northern end and the northwest area to be added were inspected. These areas are not yet affected. There are ephemeral drainageways crossing these areas, originating in the adjoining permit area of Delta S&G's. The drainages will not be affected, but mining on both sides of each drainage will lower the adjoining land nearly down to the elevation of the drainages. The unmined land unpermitted) farmland on the southwest side of the permit area also contributes drainage to the present permit area in several locations. After the amendment is approved and the 3:1 highwall contacts this boundary line, this drainage will be controllled by riprapped channels on the 3:1 slope, down to the future reclaimed pit floor.