INSPEC34641

• Permit No: M1995075
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 4/3/2006
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DMG
• To: Saguache County
• Inspection Date: 3/21/2006
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

{Page 2)
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1995-075
INSPECTION DATE 3/21/06 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO
OBSERVATIONS
This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112c permits. The operator
was contacted about the scheduled inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the
inspection.
The site is identified by the required permit ID sign posted at the entrance near the center of the western boundary, The entire
permit boundary is fenced.
The site has been active recently, but was not active during the inspection. Mining and crushing have not occurred recently, but
the operator has removed material from stockpiles. The permit is also approved for asphalt batching, but none has occurred
recently. There is no mining, processing or batching equipment onsite.
There is currently no sign of water {seasonal or otherwise) on the floor of the pit. The operator is reminded that mining the floor
any deeper poses the risk of future exposure of groundwater, which is to be avoided. All drainage reports to the pit. Pit slopes
are approximately 3:1. (Note: the approved final reclamation slope gradient is 4:1.)
Past mining extends uniformly to the northern boundary and somewhat irregularly to within 100 feet of the western boundary.
The southern third of the site is not mined yet, but it has been partially affected by former placement of the asphalt plant, and by
present storage of parts and debris owned by the county.
The western part of the pit contains many dumped loads of imported household trash, construction debris, furniture, wood
scraps, twisted culverts, concrete and asphalt debris, tree limbs and stumps, and other garbage, deposited here over a number
of years. It now covers an area estimated to be slightly less than one-quarter acre, at a depth averaging 10 feet. The total
volume is estimated to be up to 3000 cubic yards. This includes more recently dumped tree materials in the center of the pit
floor. All these materials were dumped there only for disposal (unlike the parts and materials described in the preceding
paragraph, which may still retain some value). This site is not approved or licensed as a landfill, and placement of these
The county runs a licensed landfill facility about 10-12 miles east of this site, to which most of these items wilf likely be hauled.
Removal of some wood debris may include onsite burning, if not otherwise prohibited. Alternatively, the operator maywish to
obtain a certificate of designation as a landfill from the Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment to that these materials
may be further imported and disposed of onsite.
An additional aspect of each of the problems noted above is that there is no mention of anv such importation, dumping,
storage etc. of anv of these problem items in anv of the past annual reports, though all activities are to be described.
It should be noted that none of the organic or ferrous materials in the trash and debris is in contact with groundwater, and there
are no observed hydrocarbon stains or spills from the drums, etc., so there is no problem from a water contamination
perspective at this time. But the potential for contamination exists, if other items are dumped there, or if groundwater levels
change. The issues above must be properly and timely corrected.
No further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to the Division of
Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Bob Oswald; phone no.970-247-5193.
The parts and debris noted above consists of many piles of miscellaneous scrap steel and iron, vehicle and equipment parts,
gravel mixed with glass, old signs, grader blades, tractor tires and wheels, railroad flatcars, and up to 89 empty steel drums,
among other things. These are located on the unmined land in the southeast corner of the permit area. It is not clear what
items have value to the county, but they occupy a significant amount of land antl some of them do not appear to be related to
operation of the pit (though they maybe related to road and bridge operations). The mining plan does not include approval of
storage of debris, ornon-mining-related parts and materials. This is noted as a problem in this report. The correction will be