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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1974-069 <br />INSPECTION DATE 10/09/02 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ESC <br />This was an inspection of the Larimer Pit, File No. M-1974-069 conducted by Erica Crosby of <br />the Colorado Division of Minerals & Geology. Brad Fancher of Loveland Ready Mix Concrete, <br />Inc. was present during the inspection. <br />The initial Land Stabilization and Reclamation Agreement was issued to Loveland Ready Mix on <br />August 12`h, 1974. A 112 Construction Materials permit was issued for the Larimer Pit on July <br />31, 1979 which also increased the permit area to 195 acres. The postmining land use is <br />recreation and the Division holds a bond in the amount of $47,200.00. <br />The Larimer Pit is an active operation located adjacent to the Big Thompson River. Within <br />the 195-acre permit area, there are 17 mining pits. Pits/ponds 1-12 were mined prior to 1980 <br />and have been reclaimed to ground water lakes. Pits/ponds 3-6 currently act as a series of <br />siltation ponds and water supply ponds for the active mining operation. These ponds will <br />eventually be filled with fines and converted to wetland habitat. In addition, the operator <br />also stated that Pit/pond 14 will be filled with fines and converted to wetland habitat. The <br />reclamation plan approved by the Division leaves all of the mining pits as groundwater lakes. <br />By filling in these ponds with fines, the reclamation aspects have changed. The operator <br />will need to revise the reclamation plan in the permit to reflect the construction of wetland <br />habitats. See page 4 for further detail. <br />The pits that remain as ground water ponds include #1, #2, #7, #9, #12, #13 and #15. All of <br />these ponds are well vegetated with perennial grasses and trees. The operator has obtained <br />a temporary substitute water supply plan for the evaporative loss associated with these <br />ponds. <br />Pit #8 is currently being used to dispose of off site backfill and concrete material. Trees <br />and wood products were noted mixed with the concrete material. Trees and wood products are <br />not considered inert material, and will need to be removed from the pit. Rule 3.1.5(9) of <br />the Construction Materials Rules & Regulations states that if an operator intends to backfill <br />inert structural fill generated outside of the approved permit area, it is the operator's <br />responsibility to provide the Division notice of any proposed backfill activity not <br />identified in the approved reclamation plan. This activity was not approved in the <br />reclamation plan, and no notice was given to the Division regarding disposal of offsite <br />material in the pit as required in the rules and regulations. Because inert fill has already <br />been placed in the pit the Division considers this a problem that needs to be addressed. A <br />copy of the rule regarding use of inert fill is enclosed. See page 4 for corrective action <br />and compliance due date. <br />Mining and reclamation is actively taking place in Pit #17. Pits #16 and #17 will be <br />converted into two water storage reservoirs. The pits are currently lined with shale <br />material to prevent the seepage of groundwater. The operator stated that Pit #16 has <br />currently been approved by OSE as a sealed reservoir. The reclamation plan approved by the <br />Division leaves all of the mining pits as groundwater lakes. By converting two of these pits <br />to a developed water storage reservoir, the reclamation aspects have significantly changed. <br />The operator will need to revise the reclamation plan in the form of an amendment to the <br />permit to reflect the construction of developed water resource. See page 4 for corrective <br />action and compliance due dates. <br />