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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-2000-059 INSPECTION DATE: Sentemher 4, 2001 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: AIW OBSERVATIONS This was a normal monitoring inspection conducted by Tony Waldron of DMG along with Darell Leroux of Geroux Gravel. The site is located approximately 1 mile south of Westcliffe, Colorado and is accessed off of Custer County Road 160. The pit is situated on the alluvial terrace of Grape Creek right at the interface of the terrace and the alluvial valley floor and extends from the toe of the terrace up across the slope and onto the shoulder as the terrace begins to flatten out. The position of the pit is such that when mining is completed, the pit will daylight out onto the valley floor and the elevation of the reclaimed pit floor will be approximately the same as the undisturbed valley floor. The pre-mine land use was rangeland with a blue grama/western wheatgrass base interspersed with fringed sage, broom snakeweed, rabbitbrush, etc. Where the terrace drops off into the valley floor those areas are managed as improved pasture and haylands. The mine identification sign was properly posted at the public entrance to the mine site and the permit boundaries were clearly marked with tee-posts. The permit area basically straddles the terrace from the shoulder to the toe and extends in a north-south direction. Mining has begun along the south end of the site with the excavation of a pit in an east-west direction. The pit is approximately 40 feet wide by 100 feet long and basically starts at the toe of the terrace and extends back towards the east boundary. The cut is approximately 25 feet deep and the floor appears to be just above the static groundwater level. The operator indicated that they had reached their maximum mining depth and he was aware of the requirement not to mine below the static groundwater level. The present plan is for mining to progress in a northwesterly direction with contemporaneous backfilling to occur behind the advancing pit face. The final topography calls for leaving a 3H:1 V slope on the south, east and north sides with a relatively level pit floor that matches the elevation of the adjacent alluvial valley floor. The slopes will be re-seeded utilizing a rangeland seed mix. The original plan called for the entire area to be seeded to this mix, however, the operator indicated that they may want to seed the pit floor with an irrigated pasture mix. If the operator decides to implement this change, he will need to submit a Technical Revision to the application proposing a new seed mix and delineating the area where it will be used. There is an excess of topsoil for reclamation of this site and the operator has been marketing this material for landscaping around homes. Much of this material is stockpiled in product stockpiles around the site. The operator was reminded that they will need to set aside enough topsoil to meet their reclamation requirements and any topsoil stockpiles that are in place for over 12 months will need to seeded with a temporary seed mix for stabilization and weed control. In talking with the operator he indicated that they have reached their maximum mining depth due to the groundwater exposure restriction, however, it appears that additional reserves are located below this point, although the extent of those reserves are presently unknown. The quality of this material appears to be very good as it transitions into this groundwater zone. Apparently it was known that these reserves existed during the original permitting process, but the lengthy process involved in obtaining the substitute supply and augmentation plan for the evaporative loss of exposed groundwater infringed on the timetable for opening the pit. As a result, the reclaimed elevations must remain above the static groundwater level. It was suggested that the operator may want to conduct some exploratory activities to determine the volume of reserves available for mining below the static groundwater level. If the reserves are of adequate volume such that mining them would be feasible, the operator could begin preliminary work now on addressing the water issue and eventually amend their present permit to allow mining below the static water level. A second possibility would be to incorporate these activities into a conversion application to expand the permit area further out onto the alluvial valley floor while addressing the water issues. Neither of these suggestions are a requirement of the present permit, but simply considerations for future planning. This concluded the inspection and no problems were cited. I & E Contact Address cc: Jim Stevens-DMG ^ CE NAME: Darell Leroux ^ BL ^ FS OPERATOR: Geroux Gravel ^ I{y~/ STREET: 1100 CR 160 ^ HMWMD (CH) ^ SE CITY/STATE/ZIP: Westcliffe. CO 81252 ^ WQCD (CH) ^ OTHER