INSPEC45019

• Permit No: M1984028
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 2/20/1996
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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• • (Page 2) •
MINE ID ~ OR PROSPECTING ID ~ M-84-028
INSPECTION DATE 02/20/96 INSPEC OR'S INITIALS ~O
OBSERVATIONS
This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring f 110 permits. The
operator was contacted about the inspection and a mutually convenient tim was arranged. The
operator was present during the inspection.
The permit has a CDPHE-WQCD stormwater management plan (COG 500800.)
The permit area ie identified by a sign at the entrance gate near the I~ighway, and permit
corners marked.
There are several small areas of activity within the permit, the main are being in the south
portion. The equipment (loader and truck) ie apparently kept in one f the old areas of
excavation in the north portion. This area contains much pre-law dietur ante. Some of the
highwalls resulting from the pre-law digging are steeper than the recla mad elope gradient
specified in the reclamation plan. Wherever the slopes have not been re ieturbed, however,
they are mostly stable and contain some natural revegetation. A f areas have been
redisturbed, and the reclamation of those areas are the responsibility f the operator.
This permit has a $5000 financial warranty, in the form of a letter of c edit. Most of the
discussion covered how the application's stated approved plan and poet-m ning land use were
the guides used to determine the amount of financial warranty needed. In 1984 when the
permit was issued, there was a $5000 ceiling on financial warrantie for 110 permits.
Reclamation costa have risen since then, and the amount is felt to be insufficient. The
poet-mining land use in the file is "pasture". All areas disturbed by t e operator must be
reclaimed to pasture, as the present plan exists. The financial warranty must be sufficient
to cover the costa of contracting the reclamation of all disturbance. re-law disturbance
does not have to be reclaimed, nor its reclamation costa included in the arranty. Coate of
reclamation work performed by the operator may be excluded from the total amount of warranty
required.
The operator, who ie also the landowner, uses parts of the permit area or a calving area.
Such a use requires some degree of shelter from wind, and such use lso precludes any
successful vegetative cover. it was discussed that parts of the preeen plan (which ie to
reclaim everything to pasture) may not be appropriate, given the landowne e' uses and plane.
If desired, the plan may be revised to document that parts of the are will be a future
calving area. This will require sending a letter stating that intent, lue delineating on
a map all areas to be changed, and describing the different reclamatio scheme for those
areas. Ae noted above, aside from any regrading that might be needed th re, it is not felt
that ripping, topeoiling or revegetation ie necessary.
The financial warranty is not noted as a problem at this time. The Divisi n will recalculate
the amount necessary ae the approved plan now exists. The new figures ill be sent to the
operator for review. At such time that a reasonable figure is determined the operator will
have 60 days to provide a warranty in the new amount. The operator m y meanwhile begin
documenting all reclamation work performed, to offset the new amount. Lik wise, the revision
of the poet-mining land use and its reclamation plan may be submitted. A such time that it
may be approved, the required warranty amount will reflect the new plan.
If the operator has questions please contact this inspector. There w~re no other items
observed or discussed. There were no problems noted during this inspection.
I & E Contact Addreee cc: Jim Stevene/ MG
^ CE
NAME Dolores DiRezza ^ HL
OPERATOR Dave Direzza ^ FS
STREET 33155 E Hwv 194 ^ HW
CITYJSTATE/ZIP La Junta CO 81050 ^ HMWMD (CH)
^ SE
^ WQCD (CH)
^ OTHER