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• (Page 21 MINE ID ay OR PROSPECTING ID rX M-88-087 INSPECTION DATE 9/10/99 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of 110 permits. The operator was contacted about the inspection and a time was arranged to meet at the site. An important, last minute change in the operator's schedule prevented him from being present for the inspection. The site is located not far off a county road, surrounded by dry rangeland. The pit is linear in configuration, measuring about 900 feet long x 200 feet wide on average. It is about 10 feet deep. It does not exhibit any sign of impounding water. No equipment or mining-related debris were observed at the site. Cattle have access to this site. The permit area was identified by a (fallen down) permit ID sign, located at the southern entrance road near the county road. No boundary markers were found, though there are 9 boundary corners to this permit area. The limits of the observed disturbance were measured and mapped during this inspection. It does not appear that any activity occurred offsite, though marked boundaries would have helped to determine that fact. The lack of visible markers to delineate the permit boundarv is noted in this report as a problem Correctina the problem will involve the accurate placement onsite of boundarv markers in a timely fashion land reinstallina the ID sianl. See the las paae for the corrective action date. (If livestock regularly knock down the marker posts, then perhaps one-foot sized boulders could be utilized. Please call to discuss other options.) The pit has not been mined for several years. Reclamation has recently been begun. Only a small pile of 3/8 inch product remains onsite, as well as about an acre of land adjacent to the pit that is still covered with a thin layer of gravel. It may be necessary to scrape up the remainder of this veneer of material to attain a final reclamation condition, if adequate revegetation cannot become established. There is a small pile of pitrun piled along the toe of the northeast highwall. The pit inslopes are graded fairly uniformly, at an average gradient of 2:1. The north end and northwest corner are steeper than 2:1 and eroded. The reclamation of these areas should be completed. The approved reclamation plan calls for slopes of no steeper than 5:1. There is a short section of the west wall of the pit which is sloped at about 4:1, and exhibits no erosion. The topsoil appears to have been respread. A problem with this is that, if extensive regrading is still to occur in order to bring the slopes into compliance with the approved plan, the soil will have to be handled again. At present, the pit is considered to be only temporarily shaped. If the operator finds that the present slopes can be stabilized, that soil will not erode, that a satisfactory level of revegetation can be attained, and chat the gradient is not a hazard to livestock, the operator might consider applying for a revision to the reclamation plan, allowing a different final slope gradient. Vegetation observed at the site includes thinly scattered shadscale saltbush, rabbitbrush, and threeawn grass. Weeds consisted exclusively of kochia and russian thistle. There were no noxious weeds. There were no further observations or other problems noted. For all questions or responses to this report, please contact this inspector at the following address or phone: 484 Turner Dr., Bldg. F-101, Durango CO 81301; tel 970/247-5193 or fax 970/247-5104. This office will be moved to a new address in Duranao, effective 10/1 /99. The address will be 701 Camino del Rio Room 125. The phone numbers should remain the same. I & E Contact Address cc: Tom Gillis, DMG ^ CE NAME Rock I. Southwav ^ 8L OPERATOR Southwav Construction Co.. Inc. ^ FS STREET 117 White Pine Dr. ^ HW CITY/STATE/ZIP Alamosa CO 81101 ^ HMWMD ICHI ^ SE ^ WOCD ICHI ^ OTHER