INSPEC31534

• Permit No: M1981002
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 8/12/1999
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 21 •
MINE ID J! OR PROSPECTING ID # M-81-002
INSPECTION DATE 8!12199 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO
OBSERVATIONS
This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of 1 10 permits, and in response to questions from
the operator concerning final reclamation. The operator was contacted about the inspection but stated that a schedule
conflict existed. There was no activity and no pit personnel at the site during the inspection.
The condition of the site has not changed significantly in several years. The site still largely consists of a level pad which
abuts the wet meadow on the NE, and a tall, steep highwall which runs the length of the site. The highwall ranges from
30 to 50 feet in height, and is steeper than 2:1 throughout (except the extreme SE end which has been graded down to
3:1 orlessl.
There are still a few piles of obviously imported fill or debris placed in piles against the central portion of the toe of the
slope. The fill consists of oversized material such as boulders and broken concrete debris, plus dirt, cinders, wood debris,
iron and perhaps some coal. (lt looks like debris disposal for an old in-town clean up.l The floor of the pit is above the
water table, and as such, the permanent placement of these imported materials would be acceptable as part of the backfill
and grading of final reclamation.
There is a small amount of pitrun material dozed up on the SE end of the floor. There was no earthmoving equipment or
stockpiles of processed material on the site.
The highwall was previously noted to be unstable, and it still was at the time of this inspection. The operator stated by
phone recently that the town wished to remove the old debris, then pull down some of the natural berm presently located
above the top of the highwall (which is outside the permit boundary) to reduce the slope gradient. The owner of the
overhead electric lines at the top of the slope apparently will relocate the lines to an alignment across the highway. CDOT
would then need to approve use of the berm material, since it lies within their right-of-way. The berm runs the length of
the permit area, is elevated an average of 15 feet above the grade of the borrow ditch/highway shoulder, and contains
probably sufficient volume of material to reduce the highwall slope to a stable 0radient. The slope exhibits some sloughing
of material, and though the fence at the top of the slope (which is the permit boundary) has not been damaged yet, the
potential for it to occur soon is real. The fence is literally only feet away from the sloughing slope. The operator should
note that, though there is no problem noted at this time. if offsite damage occurs. there may be a possible violation.
The topsoil pile was noted at the top of the slope toward the SE end of the pit. The soil did not appear to be deteriorating
from erosion, but was covered by a healthy stand of weeds, specifically 6y daisy and toadflax. It is not known if these
are regarded as noxious weeds by the local weed authority, but their control now may be important to revegetating the
soil later during reclamation. If these plants are known by the operator to be species which must be treated. please make
necessary inauirv into an adequate control plan and implement it.
The outslope of the pad does not exhibit sloughing. The coarse nature of the material lands itself well to steep slopes if
they are short or stabilized (i.e., vegetated, compacted, buttressed, etc.!. This slope area probably does not require any
work, though a gentler gradient, soil and vegetation would improve its condition.
There were no other items noted, and no problems at this time. Again, if material from outside the permit area is desired
to be brought in for any type of reclamation earthwork, this may be permitted. but only after review and approval of a
Notice required to be submitted prior to commencing such work pursuant to Rule 3 1 5191.
For all questions pr responses to this report, please contact this inspector at the following address or phone: 484 Turner
Dr., Bldg. F-101, Durango CO 81301; tel [phone] or fax [phone].
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