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• (Page 21 • MINE ID N OR PROSPECTING ID a M-1992-054 INSPECTION DATE 7/20/00 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its review of an amendment application for a Construction Materials 110 permit. The operator was contacted about the inspection and a time was arranged to meet at the site. At 1:15 the operator named on page one arrived and was present throughout the rest of the inspection. The site is identified with a cardboard sign attached to the shed in the existing pit floor. It will need to be checked regularly to ensure that it remains functional as a sign. When the operator is ready to replace the sign, please refer to Rule 3.1.12 and include all the required information. The permit markers, formerly missing from the site but installed by the operator were observed also. The markers are intended to delineate the boundaries of the existing 4-acre permitted area, presumably a rectangular shape. The markers were observed as being placed above the rim of the existing pit in a "horseshoe" configuration, which is not the correct location nor shape. The topic of signs and markers will not be noted as a problem, but as Dart of the current amendment application, the operator will be required to tie the existing and new boundaries to a locatable point, and correcly mark them. The amendment application included several maps and exhibits, which noted certain features as onsite or within 200 feet of the boundaries. These items were checked, and found present. Additionally, there were several other significant, manmade features found on the site which were not identified in the aoolication. These included: overhead powerlines and poles passing within 200 feet of the SE corner of the existing permit area, buried water pipeline crossing the amendment area, irrigation risers and valves (surface) from the buried irrigation pipeline in the amended area, cattle guard near the southern boundary of the amended area, several fencelines (barbed and woven wire, wood post) in and near the amended area, and an earthen contour ditch on the hill in the amended area. These items. and all other applicable items. must be included in the amendment aoolication. The deposit to be mined is an alluvial cobble and gravel bed, lying under several feet of sail and overburden, and above a sandstone layer. The depth to the gravel and the thickness of the gravel itself varies on the permit area between the east end and the west end. Less gravel is apparent, and the sandstone becomes shallower, toward the west. The maps also show the canyon drainageway crossing easterly outside the north boundary line. The canyon varies between 100 and 200 feet wide at the rim, by visual estimate made while onsite. The maps show the north boundary as being only feet away from the line representing the canyon (presumably the creek centerlinel, placing much of the permit area down in the canyon or on its slopes. Discussion during the inspection involved setting a greater setback distance between the rim and the edge of the disturbed area, to protect the canyon from erosion, sedimentation, and the pit from impounding water. This question will have to be addressed as Dart of the amendment aoolication. The western half or more of the amendment area is still covered by pinyon, juniper, sage vegetation. The eastern part of the amendment area, adjoining the existing permit area, is cleared and has been used as cropland. It is currently dry, though the irrigation pipes are present. In this-dry cropland area are two patches of knagweed. which are a species of noxious weed according to State weed law, and which the landowner is required to control. When this amendment area is added to the permit area, this Division will require that the operator prepare and submit an adequate weed control plan. Allowing noxious weeds to infest topsoil in place or in stockpiles may compound the weed problem, making reclamation more difficult. time consuming. and expensive. This is not noted as a problem in this report, but a weed plan will have to be submitted as part of addressing the amendment exhibit for reclamation plan. (Please note: the previously submitted weed control "plan" for the existing weeds on the east of the pit is not truly a plan and does not address the future control of the weeds at all.l The knagweed patches in the existing permit area, and noted previously as a problem, are back this season, green, growing and ready to flower. They will need an effective treatment this season. and every season until they are gone. Please ensure that they are spraved at the correct time and send this office evidence of such in addition to a control plan for these weeds. If we have not received a written plan and/or find evidence at the site that the weeds were not spraved, this topic could again become a problem. With a better map of the existing area, as shown on the amendment maps, it was seen that the NE corner of the existing area extends down into the creek drainageway. The same weed patch extends down there also, and should be part of the area treated.