INSPEC45847

• Permit No: M1992102
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 2/18/1996
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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MINE ID f OR PROSPECTING ID ~ W-92-102
INSPECTION DATE 02/18/96 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO
This pre-operation inspection was performed by the Division as a result of the operator's
application to convert this 110 permit to a 112 permit. The operator was contacted about the
inspection and was present for it. The existing 110 permit area was inspected first, and
then the area to become the 112 permit was inspected. This inspector had already performed
the adequacy review and had sent the adequacy letter to the operator. During the inspection
of the 112 area, the issues contained in the adequacy letter were discussed. Before the
application was determined to be complete, the Division received a letter of objection from
an adjacent landowner. A copy of that letter was also sent to the operator; the points in
that letter were also discussed during the inspection.
The sign identifying this pit ae being permitted by the MLRB was observed at the entrance to
the property from the county road. All the boundary markers were also observed.
Topsoil ie stockpiled along the north end. It is sufficient in volume to perform the
reclamation of the existing permit area. Mining is proceeding toward the eastern edge of the
permit. The pit is about 15 feet deep, and the floor dips gently toward the east. Gravel
ie best on the east aide. This ie ae deep ae the pit will become at this location, due to
encountering an underlying shale layer. There are several small frozen puddles on the floor,
but no evidence of significant impounding of water. The shale in this region is well
fractured and good percolation of water occurs on the unmined areas ae well ae the deeply
mined areas.
There were no problems observed during the inspection of the 110 area.
The 112 area was toured, with particular attention paid to the following items: overhead
power line crossing the area, river terrace to be mined, topsoil availability in the northern
end, debris and junk equipment in the north end, control of runoff water and sedimentation
ae the pit daylights on the terrace elope.
The operator will not disturb the power line, and will leave the pole in the center of the
second phase on an undisturbed "island". A written agreement for damage liability will be
obtained, and will be provided to the Division. it should also address the specifics of any
setback distance or elopes to be maintained.
The site Bits on top of a natural river terrace, whose existing elopes range from 2:1 to 3:1.
The M & D Canal rune along the elope about 100 feet below the shoulder. The canal is the
eastern boundary of the 112 area, but the affected area will not extend that far down the
slope. Mining will proceed toward the north and south and east. Mining of the material
which will daylight the pit will be saved till last for reasons of visibility and slope
protection, and will be done by pulling the material into the pit. The slope is now
vegetated by mostly tall cage, and the operator has every interest in saving as much of that
as possible. There are no significant seeps or outcrops on the present face of the terrace.
Runoff will be controlled within the pit before it daylights on the elope. After
daylighting, the runoff will be controlled through the good percolation this area exhibits
plus an earth berm located along the edge of the affected area. This will be on the slope
below the shoulder. Sediment will be cleaned out of the low areas periodically. Topsoil
will not be used to construct the berm.
An area of several acres in the north end of the 112 area was stripped of topsoil sometime
in the past. The water users association (the landowner of this property) utilized it to
mend the canal. The lack of sufficient topsoil for reclamation does not appear to be a
problem, however, since the south end contains mostly soil-like borrow material and the
western edge of the permit may not even be mined at all (due to poor gravel). Both of these
areas may provide a suitable growth medium, if needed, for that north area.
The debris and junk equipment stored in the northwest corner belongs to the landowner, and
ie mostly water-conveyance-related in nature. It is minor in amount, and consists of
slipforme for limed ditches, old corrugated and riveted pipe, some timbers, etc. There are
no drums and no apparent toxic waste. Other areas throughout the property contain small
scattered piles of dirt, broken concrete and wood debris. This was all placed there by the