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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1978-071 INSPECTION DATE 4/15/04 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 112c permits. The operator was contacted to arrange a time for the inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the inspection. The required permit ID sign was posted near the entrance gate at the west side of the site. Permit boundaries are located along the fenced perimeter of the property parcel. This operation expanded as a result of the approval of Amendment AM-01 in 1999. No excavation has occurred in several years in the original pit at the west end of the site. The west pit is a seasonal pond, with recharge water run into it from the Rio Grande Canal on the north side. The pond water level was very low at the time of the inspection, and most of the pit floor was visible. Excavation ended with the floor left with an irregular surface. The pit slopes were 3:1. No vegetation exists on the lower slopes, since they are seasonally inundated, but there is some vegetation above the normal high water line, including many willows. Since this pit is not to be excavated, the operator should ensure that it is reclaimed according to the approved reclamation plan. The only activity at the site was the importing and dumping of fill materials at the south end of the old, west pit. It had apparently been over excavated in the past by an outside contractor, resulting in a slight disruption of the flow of haul traffic at the entrance and scales. The backfilling is intended to re-establish a wider traffic corridor and straighter approach to the scales. The fill material was varied, but looked to be inert and free of ferrous, contaminating or putrescible materials. The operator stated that it was possible that a significant amount of additional fill will be imported in the future and placed at this location, as suitable material became available. Checking the permit file reveals that importing offsite generated materials is not currently an approved activity in the mining or reclamation plans. Such backfilling appears to be a logical, acceptable practice, but should be made part of the approved plans. (Placement of ferrous materials may be approved, but not below the water level.) At this time, a problem is noted under the topic of "backfilling-grading," and may corrected either of two ways: (1) If the operator wishes to terminate all future importing of such materials, a statement must be submitted stating such, and the problem will be corrected. (2) Alternatively, if importing offsite materials will be performed in the future for backfilling on the site, by various inert materials as they become available, the operator must submit a Notice, pursuant to Rule 3.1.5(9), characterizing the materials and describing their onsite use. To make the backfilling of imported material a part of the approved practices at this permit requires that a Technical Revision (TR) be submitted. The TR may consist solely of the information required in the above-cited Notice. The fee for a TR is $188. Once the TR is approved, the problem will be corrected. Please see the last page of this report for the correction date. The new pit, excavated in conformance with the plan approved under AM-01, is separate from the old pit. The new pit will be reclaimed as a dry pit. Topsoil is stripped prior to excavation, and the walls are being sloped at 3:1 wherever excavation has been finished. The new pit is approximately 3-5 acres in size. It has not extended as far east as the old farmhouse and outbuildings yet. Topsoil is stockpiled in the unmined area between the new and old pits. The reclamation plan calls for a minimum of 3 inches of soil to be replaced and disced into the top 3 inches of subsoil. The volume of topsoil appears to be sufficient to reclaim much of the pit, though the amount is limited. Due to the characteristics of the processed gravel from this pit, however, road building and surfacing is enhanced by mixing a small amount of the topsoil with the gravel. This would be acceptable if there were an excess of topsoil. The operator stated that this use of topsoil is necessary and must continue in the future, though additional topsoil may be hauled in from other sources. At this time, there appears to be enough topsoil onsite for reclamation, and no imported soil was noted in the stockpiles, so there is no problem noted under this topic. The operator is encouraged to submit another Rule 3.1.5(9) Notice, as described above, for the future importing of topsoil. The importing of topsoil underthis second Notice may be made part of the permit in the same TR discussed above. (Imported soil materials should be shown to be adequate growth media, and to not contain weed seed or other detrimental materials.) The asphalt plant is still present onsite, but was not active at the time of the inspection. There was no contamination from asphalt constituents noted. Water is recycled through lined cells. There is no diesel stored onsite, since the plant operates on natural gas. There were no noxious weeds noted onsite.