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• (Page 2j • MINE ID !1 OR PROSPECTING ID rX M-1994-005 INSPECTION DATE 2/23/01 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 inspection and a time was arranged to jointly inspect the site. The operator's representative named on page one was present throughout the inspection. The required permit ID sign was posted at the entrance to the site. Permit boundaries are mostly marked by existing fencelines, except for a small portion of the NE boundary which lies in undisturbed bottomland pasture, and except for the secondary access road to the southeast of the pit, which extends from Vernal Road to the area where Phase II will daylight into the bottomland. All active areas in the permit are well within the fence-marked permit boundaries. The facilities are all in very good condition, and the site is kept neat. The asphalt plant was not being operated at the time of the inspection. This is a phased operation, with activities now affecting Phases I through IV, though not all of Phases II and III have been fully affected by mining. Phase II lies east of those phases, and has been partially excavated. The approved mining plan calls for "mining through" Phases II and III, to daylight the pit floor to the east, at the same elevation as the adjacent property. This is to occur before mining occurs in Phases IV and V. The northeast part of Phase I and north end of Phase III contain the office, shop and asphalt plant, presently located on unexcavated land. These facilities and their uses are approved for this permit area under the present plan. The areas presently affected are within the permit boundary and are approved for being affected under the present plan. However, the sequence in which they are being affected by mining does not follow the sequence described in detail in the approved plan. The existing bond was calculated based on amounts of disturbance according to the phased mining plan which was approved in 1994. If present mining and reclamation needs dictate that a different sequence of activity be carried out on this site, then the permit should be revised. At present, however, this is noted as a problem in this report, under "mining plan". Please see the last page for the correction date. The highwalls in the pit are vertical except where they have been backfilled after excavation. The approved mining plan from 1994 calls for mining at 2:1, and backfillina during reclamation to 3:1. This is noted as a problem under "mining plan" mainly because reclaiming from this configuration is not accounted for in the earthwork costs. There are presently about 1400 lineal feet of 20-foot tall highwalls to be reduced to 3:1. If the operator wishes to continue to operate the pit this way the mining and reclamation plans must be revised, and the bond adjusted to account for these tasks. See the last page for the correction date. Some of the north and west highwalls have been reduced to 2.5:1, possibly 3:1. Much of this has been through backfilling reject material, such as fines, etc. The wash pond periodically is dredged for this reason. Some of the slopes exhibit topsoil, and some exhibit grass. If these areas are to be considered "fully reclaimed" then the operator must ensure that the maximum slope of 3:1 is not exceeded, the minimum soil depth is attained, and revegetation is not delayed by erosion or weeds. All slopes land other areas) which can be fully reclaimed according to the approved plan are removed from the list of outstanding reclamation costs. The south edge of the floor in Phase I contains a small two-cell wash pond. The pond presently contains impounded water, which happens to be exposed groundwater. The approved mining plan does not include washing activities, and specifically states that groundwater will not be impounded. This is noted as a problem under "hydrologic balance". The operator must either backfill the pond to the surrounding floor grade• or revise the plan to allow wash activites and the use of exposed groundwater. The revision must include documentation showing that evaporation of this groundwater is approved and does not constitute injury to water rights. See the last page for the correction date. The diesel fuel tank which supplied the portable diesel pump at the wash pond is located adjacent to the pond. This location is five feet or less above the groundwater level, and 20 feet or less horizontally from the surface of the pond. The ground around the tank exhibits signs of spillage or less than careful handling, constituting potential contamination to the groundwater. Even with the existing soil berm. the fuel can move widely over t+me. This is noted as a problem under "acid or toxic materials". The operator must store fuel in a manner that provides adequate secondary containment, that is containment adequate to hold the full volume of that vessel and impermeable. The operator must also excavate all contaminated soils from the close proximity to groundwater, and either dispose of it offsite at an approved facility or