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IPage;21 MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1991-133 INSPECTION DATE 10/15/02 ' '~ -' ~' "' INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112 permits. The operator's representative was contacted about the~inspection;~and.a date was arranged to jointly inspect the site. The operators named on page one were present throughout the inspection. The required permit ID sign was posted at the entrance gate near the highway. The boundary markers, though not individually checked, were indicated by the operator tp:still be present and in their correct locations. There is no activity yet in close proximity to the SE and SW corners, which have been"-seen in the past to be marked. There is, however, activity near the NE and NW corners, and it is very important that these corner markers land even extra markers installed midway along the boundaries) remain accurately and durably installed. (lt was mentioned that outside parties have mined and processed materials here, and the site is open for outside parties to obtain material from their purchased stockpiles, so it is important that the boundaries are well marked and understood by those outside parties.) Some reclamation has begun, though it is limited to grading for slope reduction, mainly on the west end of the pit. Most of the existing highwalls are vertical to 1:1 gradient. The highwall on the SE side of the pit is near the boundary and will be sloped to final gradient soon. The pit will not extend much farther here, and it will not be daylighted to the river bottomland. The operator must ensure that sufficient material remain unmined here for the 3:1 slope reduction to be performed as part of final reclamation. No recent mining has occurred, since there are numerous stockpiles of various materials available on the site. Some of these stockpiles are located on the pit floor, though most material is stockpiled above the pit on the north side of the permit. Some miscellaneous materials are placed in the' unmined NE corner of the permit. Mining will eventually be extended to the north of the existing pit, but removal •of the existing stockpiles will have to be completed first. Processing onsite is currently limited to screening of pitrun, and some screening of topsoil prior to replacement. There is very limited parts and debris onsite, no contamination, and no noxious weeds. Some annual weeds exist on the older stockpiles of fines and sand, and on disturbed areas. This pit site prelates the 1991 issuance of the permit: Topsoil Fias been stripped from areas mined after 1991, but is still in place on the unmined areas north of the pit (where the majority of~the stockpiled material is now locatedl~ Care should be taken when removing the last of those stockpiled materials, to avoid undue topsoil degradation. Likewise, topsoil still in place above the northern and southern side of the^pit must'be"stripped back a sufficient distance prior to gravel extraction. Since the pit floor is getting larger and the floor will eventually require topsoil, the operator might consider stockpiling topsoil down in the pit, or even spreading topsoil orrportion of the floor which will not be disturbed in the future. Either of these activities may help keep the bond minimized. (Please try to carry out the required revegetation activities on all areas which have been topsoiled.) .. The need to update the Division's bond calculation was discussed. The current bond is 516,465.41, and will be regarded as adequate until a new bond review is performed in the near future. As long as the mining plan is complied with, and some amount of reclamation is carried out during mining, the current reclamation costs will probably be close to the existing bond amount. The revised bond figures will be sent to the operator under separate cover. The operator mentioned that they would like to expand the current 30-acre 112 permit to an 80-acre area. This will require a permit amendment, which is submitted on a 112 permit application form with any amended exhibits attached (such as maps, etc.l, and will require public notices to be published. The'fee"for a 112 amendment is S1,938. The application form is enclosed with the operator's copy of this report." '~ ^~"-' There were no additional items observed or discussed'" No problems exist at this time. All responses or questions about this inspection report should be directed to this inspector at the Division's Durango Field Office. The address is: Division of Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino del Rio, Room~125, Durango, Colorado 81301; telephone 970/247-5193, or fax 970/247-5104. ,ti, Cont. ~ :>(, .. ,~: