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~, • (Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-78-052 <br />INSPECTION DATE 2/26/2001 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS TAS <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />1. A site inspection was made of the Howe Pit as part of the Division's on-going <br />investigation of a number of citizen complaints received during the fall of 2000 from surface <br />and groundwater users in the Henderson area. Present during the site inspection was Mr. <br />Duane Bollig. <br />2. The Howe Pit is permitted for a total of 389.2 acres with a financial warranty of $622,650 <br />in the form of a Corporate Surety. The mining plan specifies dewatering and dry mining <br />methods. The designated post-mining land uses are developed water resources, recreation, and <br />wildlife habitat. The primary objective of reclamation is to create two (2) lined water <br />storage reservoirs with a combined surface area of 275.32 acres. The surface owner of the <br />Howe Pit is the Denver Water Board via purchase agreement with the operator. <br />3. Current disturbances at the Howe Pit include the plant site, reclaimed Reservoir B, a <br />large wash pond and tailings area, and active mining in the 69.62 acre Reservoir A area <br />(stages 8-11). Reclamation of reservoir B has been completed in conformance with the terms <br />of the reclamation plan. On May 23, 2000 the OSE had issued written approval of the <br />Reservoir B area for leakage criteria. However, this approval was for Reservoir B only and <br />not Reservoir A or the plant site area as neither mining or reclamation had been completed <br />in either of them. The operator has not yet applied for financial warranty release for the <br />Reservoir B area. The wash pond and tailings area was estimated to be 27.5 acres in size <br />with approximately 2 feet of exposed groundwater. (The acreage was measured by Mr. Bollig <br />from a recent aerial photo of the Howe Pit). This inspector estimates the pond/tailings area <br />to be at or near the original ground level. A significant portion of the Reservoir A area <br />has been excavated and is being mined in conformance with the terms of the mine plan, ie: dry <br />mining and dewatering. There were dewatering trenches running throughout the floor of the <br />pit with exposed groundwater. This inspector estimates the excavation in the Reservoir A <br />area to be 25 feet deep and 66 acres in size. The groundwater table within the disturbed <br />area was depressed via dewatering activities; however, the permit application specifies that <br />the groundwater table was measured at 5-6 feet below ground surface under baseline or <br />"natural" conditions. <br />4. A recent inquiry from the OSE indicates that current mining disturbances at the Howe Pit <br />require a well permit and a temporary substitute supply plan. Correspondence from the OSE <br />received on March 20, 2001 indicates that the operator is in compliance with their <br />requirements. <br />I & E Contact Address <br /> ~ CE <br />NAME Duane Bollig ~ BL <br />OPERATOR Western Mobile, Inc. ~ FS <br />STREET P.0. Box 215001 ~ HW <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP Denver, CO 80221 ~ HMWMD (CH) <br />cc: Carl Mount. DMG <br />Eric Reckentine <br />Mobile Premix Concrete, Znc. <br />1590 W. 12th Avenue <br />Denver. CO 80204 <br />