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(Page 2) !SINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-91-104 INSPECTION DATE 06/20/96 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division ae part of its monitoring of 110 permits. The operator was contacted to arrange a time to meet at the site. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the inspection. This operator also spoke with the permit contact of record, Marlene Crosby, by phone after the inspection. The permit is identified at the entrance by an adequate permit ID sign, and the perimeter is marked by a fence. The total permit area is 3.5 acres. Topsoil ie piled along the western edge, adjacent to the excavated areas in the southern half of the permit. Undisturbed areas exhibit a very distinct but shallow topsoil layer. Areas within the pit have substantial deposits of clay, which if salvaged, might also be used in reclamation. Volumes of stockpiled soil were estimated to be adequate to reclaim the site, according to the approved plan. No reclamation has occurred yet, but this inspector urges the operator to begin some soon, especially along the southeast highwall (this feature is described below). Due to its proximity to the permit boundary, attaining a 4:1 elope will require backfilling, ae the permit now exist e. The site ie being currently operated. There were no pieces of equipment, and only minimal structures. There are stockpiles mostly in the north end and excavation mostly in the south. Excavation along the south part of the east boundary has created a wall adjacent to an irrigated pasture; which has intercepted a minor irrigation lateral on the low aide of the field. Since water is currently being spread on this pasture, the water is currently running over the edge of the highwall and entering the permit area. If this structure had not been intercepted, some water would have percolated down and seeped into the pit while the majority of the water would have traveled north along the permit/pasture boundary and entered the stockpile area of the permit by running across the surface. The landowner is not concerned about the water or the structure. The present situation is not regarded as a problem in the context of this inspection, simply because the (seasonal) irrigation water which leaves the pasture will enter the permit area anyway, and there is a structure built within the permit area to catch and convey the water off the permit. At the foot of the highwall below the intercepted ditch there ie a trench to catch the water. The water ie flowing at several gallons per second over silty cobbly material, which does not appear to be contributing much sediment to the water. The water settles in the trench and flows slowly to the north, where it enters a pipe. The pipe (approx 10-inch diameter PVC) is buried such that equipment dose not damage it and flow is assured toward the west aide of the permit. At that point, it exits the pipe and flows through a short, shallow, earthen drainage ditch and out of the permit. The ditch ie lined with very cobbly material, and the water does not appear to contain any sediment nor to be degrading the ditch itself. There ie another area of excavation and its associated highwall in the center of the permit. It has been created out of the floor of the area, and ie about 15 feet deeper than the surrounding grade. Its walls are nearly vertical, but stability is not an issue, since its bowl shape contains all sloughing material and runoff, plus its highwall shoulder ie delineated by boulders presumably for pit traffic safety. There ie water impounded to a depth of about 2 feet in this pit, which appears to be seasonal subirrigation seeping into the pit. r The central pit and the recent excavation along the east edge, described above, were performed by another party, according to the operator. Gunnison County allowed Hont rose County to excavate, process and stockpile material in this permit. Unfortunately, a large portion of the processed gravel stockpile is outside of the permit boundary. The stockpile covers a small portion of the adjacent pasture, and would have covered part of the eastern perimeter fence, but someone thoughtfully moved it farther into the pasture, eo it did not get damaged. Damage of the off-permit area consists of placement of gravel on the pasture and relocation of the fence to follow the perimeter of the pile which lies outside of the permit. The total area of offsite~dieturbance is approximately 0.25 acre. Offeite damage ie a possible violation, which this Division must bring before the Mined Land Reclamation Board at a hearing. A letter stating this Division's reason to believe that a