INSPEC44536

• Permit No: M1976051
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 1/28/2004
• Doc Name: Unresolved Problems Noted in Insp. Rpt.
• From: DMG
• To: Duckels Construction Inc.
• Inspection Date: 7/29/2003
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 2)
MINE ID ~ OR PROSPECTING ID (( M-1979-034
ZNSPBCTION DATE 07/29/03 INSPHCTOR'S INITIALS SSC
OBBBAVATIONe
This was an inspection of the Bettger Gravel Pit, Permit No. M-1976-051, conducted by Srica
Crosby of the Colorado Division of Minerals & Geology. Rick Bouchard of Duckels
Construction, Inc. was present during the inspection.
The site is located 5 miles west of Steamboat Springs, in Routt County Colorado. A 112
permit was issued May 8, 1977. The permit was transferred to Duckels Construction, Inc. in
1989. The permit has been amended a number of times over the years for a total permit area
of 63 acres. The Division currently holds a financial warranty in the amount of $35,000.00.
The approved poetmining land use ie rangeland.
Mining was actively taking place during the inspection. Amendment 04 (AM-04) was approved in
1998 that added 25 acres to the site. Mining consists of removing 10 to 15 feet of
overburden in a relatively small block. The gravel deposit is mined ouC and the overburden
is placed in the previously mined area. A pump was noted on the northern edge of the pit
used to pump groundwater. The water is discharged into an adjacent field. The AM-04
application states that neither a well permit nor a NPDES discharge permit ie required for
this activity. The Division is unclear if pumping groundwater into an open field requires a
NPDES discharge permit, so this inspection report will be copied to the Colorado Department
of Public Heath and the Bnvironment for their determination.
The original mine area to the south has been mined and reclaimed. The reclaimed elopes of
the pit are 3h;1v or leas and drain into a small pond at the base of Che hill. The
application states that pond elopes will be no steeper than 3h:ly. However, the northwest
portion of the pond contains a large pile of material with elopes at 2h:ly or steeper. The
operator will need to grade this section of the pond to meet the permit and rule requirements
of 3h:ly slopes,
Vegetation around the pond area consists of Smooth Brome, Western wheatgraes, Intermediate
Wheatgraes and some annual weeds. The operator stated that this area was reseeded three
years ago. The reclaimed area west of the pond has recently been reseeded by the landowner
and consists of Yellow Sweet clover and a variety of a Mustard plant. The landowner intends
to reseed this area and the remainder of the Bite with a mixture of Birds Foot Trefoil and
Alfalfa. However, the approved seed mixture in the permit requires Smooth Brome, Pubescent
Wheatgrase and Streambank Wheatgrass (noted in AM-04). The seed mixture planted by the
landowners also does not comply with the seed mixture approved in the original application,
AM-O1 or AM-03 (see attached portions of the reclamation plan delineating approved seed
mixtures). In order for this seed mixture to be used on the reclaimed area, it must be
incorporated into the permit in the form of a revision. Failure to do eo will require the
operator to reseed the area with the approved seed mixture. See page 3 for additional
information and compliance due dates.
The poetmining land use for the site is rangeland. In the reclaimed portion of the site east
and north of the pond, the landowner is using this area as a commercial ski shooting range.
A number of ski shoots are positioned on the site, as well as a large shelter facility. It
appears that the end land use for this portion of the site is recreation, and will need to be
reflected as such in the reclamation plan. The operator will need to submit a revision to
the permit changing the end land use in this area to recreation. The ski shoot facilities
and structures will need to be depicted in the permit, and the operator will need to submit
local county approval for this end land use. See page 3 for additional information and
compliance due dates.
The Division was unable to locate a mine identification sign. Rule 3.1.12 0£ the
Construction Materials Rules and Regulations require the operator to poet a sign with the
name of the operator, a statement that a reclamation permit Eor the operation has been issued
by the Mined Land Reclamation Board (NLRB) and the permit number. This sign will need to be
posted at the entrance to the site. Proof of compliance (in the £orm of photographs) must be
submitted to the Division by October 1, 2003. See page 3 for additional information.