INSPEC32639

• Permit No: M1991104
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 7/10/2000
• Doc Name: MATERIALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 6/29/2000
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• (Page 2j •
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1991-104
INSPECTION DATE 6/29/00 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO
OBSERVATIONS
This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 1 10 permits, and because
of a request for a joint inspection by the operator. The operator was contacted about the inspection and a time was
arranged to meet at the site. The operator's representative named on page one was present throughout the inspection.
The permit ID sign was posted at the entrance gate near the county road. The permit boundary markers along the north
and southeast were observed. The northeast boundary is well past the pit perimeter fence, and will not be encroached
upon any closer, leaving a significant amount of unexcavated permit area. The permit boundary on the west side is outside
the perimeter fence there, and contains the old sawmill waste described in the 1991 application; that area has not been
disturbed by the operator.
The site has been fully excavated on the southern end, and is progressing toward the north. Sideslope grading has been
carried out on much of the eastern, southern and southwestern walls of the pit. The pit does not truly daylight on the south
or west, rather the excavation has created a Swale which tends to impound water. The unmined land immediately adjacent
to the pit on the east is irrigated pasture, which is currently providing irrigation water to the pit walls and floor. In an effort
to keep the floor drained the operator has dug a drain ditch from the east highwall to daylight on the west above the river.
The operator still has substantial onsite material available to mine on the eastern edge and northern end, but wishes to
reconfigure the boundary slightly to facilitate better reclamation and a more usable site for the landowner.
The operator is not under any situation of having to change permit boundaries for correcting a violation, and the areas
desired to delete from the permit area are not disturbed by mining. Meeting these criteria allows the operator the option
of requesting a permit boundary change via apolicy-approved "land exchange" technical revision ITRI, instead of adding
the land through an amendment. The boundary change begins with a request for release of the undisturbed acreage. If
approved, a TR follows for adding the new land. Abetter description of the land exchange process is attached to the
operator's copy of this report.
The approval of both these permit actions (release of acreage and addition of land) requires that these areas be inspected.
Though no written release request nor technical revision have been submitted for this office to review, the areas to be
affected by the changes were inspected during this visit. Once submitted, if the two permit actions appear as though they
are to occur on the exact areas inspected, this current inspection may suffice for the release and pre-operation inspections.
The details of the areas to be affected by these changes will not be described in this report, but will be included in the
actual correspondence concerning the release and the TR.
The site is active, there being small stockpiles of pitrun and product on the site. It is anticipated that another crushing will
be carried out soon, to make several years' worth of product. Currently there is no equipment onsite. The operation is
uncovering a large amount of oversized material, which the operator is not sure what to do with.
The previously reported thistle patches, for which the operator has provided a noxious weed control plan, were again
observed. The plants in the patches are healthy and green and ready to flower. The operator is urged to keep up with
needed weed control, and not let this infestation become out of control. If evidence shows that the patches are spreading
or that controls are allowed to lapse, the presence of the noxious weeds will again be noted as a problem.
As it stands, the operation is well within the permit boundaries, and is operating according to the approved mining and
reclamation plans.
This is a clean and orderly operation. No other items were noted or discussed during the inspection. No problems were
observed. For all questions or responses to this report, please contact this inspector at the fallowing address or phone:
701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango CO 81301; tel [phone] or fax [phone].
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