_INSPECTION - M1974070 (6) - Laserfiche WebLink

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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-1974-070 INSPECTION DATE: 1 7/4/n7 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: TQS OBSERVATIONS 1. A site inspection of the Nelson Pit was made as part of the Division's on-going 4-year inspection program. The site is located immediately west of Boulder Creek and immediately north of Weld County Road 16.5, approximately 5 miles southeast of Longmont. Present during the inspection was Howard Harlan, Whitey Glasser, and Mike Hart. 2. The Nelson Pit is permitted for a total of 365 acres. The post-mining land use is private recreation. The operator has posted a financial warranty of$32,000 in the form of a Corporate Surety. The reclamation plan specifies creation of a series of lakes and shallow ponds that will become wetlands encompassing a total of 69 acres; maintaining the original 13.9 acres of water surface; tospoiling and revegetating 135 acres of surrounding area; and planting clumps of a variety of trees and shrubs around the wetland and lake shoreline areas. Woody vegetation to be established includes plains cottonwood, narrowleaf cottonwood, golden willow, american plum, chokecherry, buffaloberry, coralberry, red osier dogwood, and sandbar willow. 3. All mining has been completed at the Nelson Pit and the site is now in the final stages of reclamation. Mr. Glasser estimated that 2/3 of the site has already been reclaimed. Reclamation work noted includes completion of backfill and grading and finish grading; and topsoil reapplication in the northern 1/3 and southern 1/3 of the site. A reclaimed lake with adequately graded shoreline has also been established in the northern 1/3. The shallow excavation in the northern 1/3 did not yet contain water. Portions of the central 1/3 of the site have been completely reclaimed with a gently sloping swale that drains towards the northeast towards and surrounding slopes that have been topsoiled and revegetated. Other portions of the central 1/3 contain stockpiles or are in the process of being excavated and graded to reclamation contours. Overall, the operator has done an excellent job of grading and shaping affected land surfaces to facilitate wetlands development as well as allow surface and groundwater to drain toward the northeast and discharge into Boulder Creek. This inspector and Lafarge representatives estimate the following work is needed to complete the reclamation plan: 1) excavate 6 acre-feet of material in the existing stockpile area, 2) excavate and grade 35 acre-feet of material to reclamation contours, 3) respread approximately 7 acre-feet of topsoil over disturbed acreage within the central 1/3 of the site, 4) apply weed control and revegetate all non-water surfaces of affected land, 5) establish clumps of trees and shrubs around wetland and lake shorelines, and 6) remove a conveyor bridge and supports that span Boulder Creek(estimate $1,000 demolition cost). 4. Various infestations of knapweed (a noxious weed) and other pest weed species were noted in a majority of non- water surface areas. It appears that the operator has some form of in-house weed control although this inspector could not find evidence in the permit file of a weed control plan for specific species of knapweed. The Division considers this matter to be a problem and requests that the operator submit a weed control plan for knapweed in the form of a technical revision. Attached is a list of contacts that may be available to assist in the development of such plan. Please see page 4 for corrective actions. S. Following the inspection the operator provided evidence of an approved augmentation agreement to address water usage at the Nelson Pit. 6. The Division estimates the reclamation cost for remaining reclamation work to be $143,700. (Please see attached reclamation cost estimate). Therefore the existing financial warranty of$32,000 is not adequate to complete the reclamation plan. The Division considers this matter to be a problem and requests that the operator provide either a replacement warranty of$143,700 or a supplemental warranty of$111,700 within the next 60 days. Please see page 4 for corrective actions. 7. An entrance sign and permit boundary markers were posted as required by Rule 3.1.12.