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<br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-1949-077
<br />INSPECTION DATE: 70/3t/07 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: KAP
<br />OBSERVATIONS
<br />1. This inspection was conducted in response to a complaint received on September 11, 2001 by Kathy Troudt Riley, P.C.,
<br />who represents two citizens residing in the vicinity of the permit site, Darwin M. Roe and Dr. Bill Martin. Present at the
<br />inspection were Kate Pickford, DMG, Erica Crosby, DMG, and Connie Davis and Kelvin Meyer, Aggregate Industries
<br />WCR, Inc. Weather at the time of inspection was clear, windy, and about 70 degrees.
<br />2. Aggregate Industries has been operating under a DMG permit at the Stegner Farms site since August, 1999. In Early June,
<br />2000, Aggregate Industries completed installation of a slurry wall around the mine site. Groundwater monitoring Etas been
<br />active immediately adjacent to the slurry wall boundary since August, 1999.
<br />The permit application for the DMG permit for the Stegner Farms site, prepared by Poudre Tech Aggegates, Inc., indicates
<br />that the permit applicant was aware that incorporation of a lined pond system could result in mounding upgradient of the
<br />barrier and depression of groundwater downgradient. The application further indicates that the ground water levels are
<br />predicted to stabilize over time and equilibrate at near pre-mining levels. The final guidelines for the application indicate
<br />that if groundwater is affected by the presence of the slurry wall, the operator will install a french drain system in order to
<br />mitigate the problem. The definition of affecting groundwater in the guidelines, however, addresses only the mounding
<br />affect predicted upgradient and defines the trigger to install the french drain as groundwater within 2 feet of ground surface
<br />for a period of three weeks.
<br />4. According to a report authored by Banks and Gesso, LLC, submitted to the DMG by Kathy Troudt Riley on September 11,
<br />2001, the triggering events for the installation of the french drain have not occurred to elate. The report further indicates,
<br />however, that the groundwater regime of the area immediately adjacent to the slurry wall has been affected by the
<br />presence of the structure. A map composed by Scientech, Inc. indicates that groundwater levels immediately adjacent to
<br />the slurry wall upgradient of the structure have been raised as much as 6.3 feet since installation of the wall, and have
<br />dropped as much as 3.7 feet downgradient. The data submitted by Banks and Gesso, LLC does not define the aerial extent
<br />of these effects. Subsequent to slurry wall installation, additional monitoring wells were installed downgradient of the pit,
<br />but no pre-slurry wall data for this area is available in the report.
<br />5. Residents downgradient of the Stegner Farms site have experienced drops in groundwater levels since the installation of
<br />the slurry wall. Mike Keegan, representing Darwin Roe of 2320 N. Tah Hill Rd., supplied the DMG with historical data
<br />consisting of monthly groundwater well measurements from a well on the property. These data indicate that historically
<br />(1988-1990), the groundwater level in the well was from 2.6 to 8 feet below ground surface (bgs). One reading of 8 feet
<br />bgs was measured in September of 1989 and was evidently measured during a time the well was being used for irrigation.
<br />The remainder of the levels were 5.1 feet bgs or less. The average monthly water level in the Roe well was 4.3 feet bgs
<br />during the 1989-1990 period. Since installation of the slurry wall, Mr. Roe's well has been dry. Depth of the Roe well is 9
<br />feet 8 inches. Mr. Keegan also indicated that Mr. Roe's hay field has been less productive this summer than in the past.
<br />Mr. Roe typically gets 3 cuttings of hay and this summer had only one. Mr. Keegan's geothermal heating system for his
<br />office located behind Mr. Roe's residence has been inoperative since installation of the slurry wall, due, according to Mr.
<br />Keegan, to the underground pipes affiliated with the system being above the groundwater level. Dr. Bill Martin of 2200 N.
<br />Taft Hill Rd. advised DMG that the pond in the front of his property has dried up since installation of the slurry wall. Dr.
<br />Martin presented historic photographs to DMG depicting the pond in his yard full to the level of the adjacent land surface.
<br />Dr. Martin also presented photographs of the same pond in April 2001 ranging from having a few inches of water to being
<br />completely dry. At the time of this inspection, the pond contained approximately a foot of water or less.
<br />6. Subsequent to the inspection, DMG was advised by Duane Viney, who resides immediately upgradient of the Stegner
<br />Farms site that since installation of the slurry wall, he has had to increase the number of sump pumps in the basement of
<br />his residence in order to keep up with the water accumulating there. Additionally, Mr. Viney stated that when
<br />neighboring properties were irrigating this summer, [Isere was standing water on his property which previously only
<br />happened during heavy rains which were absent at the time this condition occurred. Antonette Lueck of 2400 N. Taft Hill
<br />Rd. stated that she has resided at that address for 24 years and has never had to supplement the feeding of her horses with
<br />hay during the summer until this year. This year, she has had to feed hay all summer.
<br />7. The Banks and Gesso, LLC report indicates that the drop in groundwater level downgradient of the Stegner Farms site
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