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• (Page 2) • <br />MINE ID 11 OR PROSPECTING ID ~ M-1983-14B <br />INSPECTION DATE 3-16-2000 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a routine partial inspection, conducted as part of an on-going monitoring program for mine sites in Colorado. <br />Some equipment, including a crusher, loader, bulldozer, and conveyors were on site and there were several stockpiles of <br />gravel. The loader was busy stripping and stockpiling overburden as well as building up the berm that crosses the old road <br />through the pit, at the crest of the highwall. The berm appears to be approximately 8 to 10 feet high. <br />The problems noted in the Division's previous inspection report from 5-2-1997 apparently have been corrected through <br />removal of the asphalt batch plant and the petroleum contaminated soils. However, the file does not contain any <br />documentation of these corrective actions being performed, as was required by the corrective action. This report will serve <br />as documentation that these problems no longer exist on site. However, in the future, Montrose County will be required <br />to submit adequate documentation of corrective actions performed, when problems are noted during the inspection. <br />Montrose County must be aware that the permit will need to be revised to allow for an asphalt batch plant before any more <br />asphalt botching is conducted at this site. No signs of recent asphalt botching at this site were noted. The permit has not <br />yet been revised to allow asphalt botching at this site. <br />Areas of the site that have not been recently disturbed have a cover of weeds becoming established. No noxious weeds <br />were noted, and the weed establishment is not listed as a problem in this report. However, Montrose County is encouraged <br />to perform site-wide weed control. Final reclamation of the site should be more successful if these measures are taken <br />throughout the remainder of the life of [he mine. <br />The equipment operator on site during the inspection indicated that the portion of the site north of the access road was <br />reclaimed by placing approximately 3 inches of crusher fines over the surface of the pit floor and then seeding. He <br />indicated that the pit floor was not ripped prior to placement of the fines and there was no evidence that any mulch had <br />been applied after seeding. Both of these tasks are requirements of the reclamation plan. Additionally, the use of crusher <br />fines for growth medium may be necessary due to a lack of topsoil, but Montrose County will need to revise the permit <br />to indicate how these sterile fines, when used as a growth medium, will be amended so they are suitable for use as a <br />growth medium. The site receives little precipitation, so the use of a porous growth medium such as crusher fines, without <br />some type of amendment to add structure and organic matter to the soil, most likely will result in failure of any revegetation <br />attempts. <br />Revegetation efforts on this portion of the pit appear to be a failure. Vegetation consists of Russian thistle and kochia <br />almost exclusively. Rubber rabbitbrush is established around the perimeter of the disturbed area and may encroach into <br />the reclamation, but that could take many years. <br />Topsoil was being stripped in front of the highwall in preparation for the next phase of mining. The soil is being stockpiled <br />on the west side of the highwall for use in contemporaneous reclamation behind the highwall after mining advances. It <br />appeared that in-place topsoil thickness was approximately 6 inches. The stockpiled topsoil appeared to contain a fair <br />amount of gravel and some caliche. Montrose county is cautioned not to allow excessive amounts of gravel and caliche <br />to mix with the topsoil during salvaging operations. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to: Division of Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino Del Rio, Room <br />125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Steve Shuey, phone no. 970.247-5062. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME Brian Wilson <br />OPERATOR Montrose County <br />STREET P. O. Box 1289 <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP Montrose, CO 81402 <br />cc: Tom Gillis, DMG <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD (CH) <br />^ SE <br />^ WOCD ICH) <br />^ OTHER <br />