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(Page 21 MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-80-133 INSPECTION DAT 12/19/96 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO OBSERVATIONS This inspection was perfor ed by the Division as part of its monitoring of 112 permits. The op rator was contacted about the inspection, and the operator' representatives named on page 1 were present during the inspe ion. This is an instream operation, ith the extraction area located wholly within the Uncompah re River channel. The length of [he permit was observed from the ac ss road along the+ east bank of the river. Several locations long the road offered points of access into the dry channel bottom. Ther was a long gravel berm in parts of the channel, restric ng the seasonal flows to the west bank, and allowing dry mining to be carri d out in the rest of the channel. There was no significant stockpiling material in the permit area. Likewise therewas no equipment for mining or processing present. Specific points along the banks have bee rip rapped to protect them and th adjacent road from washing. Such material is to remain after reclamation. The extreme Wort end (downstream end) of the per it shows no impact by mining. The operator stated that affecting this end may negatively impac a headgate on the river, so mi ng there is to be avoided. However, an area adjacent to the upstream end of the permit is desired to a added to the permit some ow. A discussion followed concerning exchanging land fora 1 1 2 permit, through the mechanism of a " odified" technical revisio If such a land exchange is desired, in which undisturbed land is deleted from the permit in exchange for env land to be added, a attached steps to be followed should be of some help. The existing financial warranty is 52400, which the` ile indicates sho d cover reclamation of three acres of disturbance. The mining disturbance includes the final grading of any affec driver bank o a gradient of 3:1, and removal of the gravel berm from the channel. There is no deep mining, no highwall, no str ctures lot r than earthen ramps into the channell, no topsoil or revegetation requirement. The road is to remain onsite after reclama ~on. Co idering that the channel is being mined shallow and flat, minimizing bank disturbance, the only areas to reclaim are the start ed ar as of affected banks where ramp removal is needed and the instream berm is to be smoothed down. This area does not e:xcee t ee acres, so the operation is complying with stipulations of the permit approval and the approved mine plan. The financial wawa [y will be re-evaluated in [he near future, to update the unit costs of the reclamation. When the new figures are completed, the ' I be sent to the operator for review. Overall the operation appears neat and orderly, an~i tyfe chan7tel itself appears stable There were no problems noted or other items discrSssed during `the inspection. I & E Contact Address cc: Steve Shuey, DMG ^ CE NAME Milan H wxb ^ BL OPERATOR Weste n Gravel ^ FS STREET 300 N Townsend Ave. ^ HW CITY/STATE/ZIP M trose CO 81401 \\^ HMWMD ICHI i~I SE ^ WOCD ICHI ^ THER cc: Nick Mezei U.S. Army Corps Engineers 402 Rood Ave, om 142 Grand Junction 0 81501 •