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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: m-~nn~-nay <br />INSPECTION DATE: nq/ii/m <br />INSPECTOR=S INITIALS: ~Ilt)L <br />This inspection was conducted as the result of a citizen's complaint received on August 29, 2002. The site is located <br />approximately? miles southwest of Westcliffe, Colorado. The pit was initially developed to supply road surfacing material for <br />the Sierra Mojada development, which basically consisted of subdividing a large ranch into 35 acre building lots. This type of <br />activity has been allowed in the past by the Board if the material is used soley for the purpose of primary road development in <br />these open subdivisions. The pit is located on one of the parcels in what is known as Sierra Mojada South. The original <br />development consisted of Sierra Mojada South, North, East and West and the material was apparently to be used over all 4 <br />sites. The initial road development for the site has now been completed and many of the lots have now been sold. <br />Furthermore, the original developers of the site have apparently split the development with two phases belonging to one and <br />two phases belonging to the other one. As often happens with this arrangement, there was more material crushed, screened <br />and stockpiled than was necessary for initial road development, thereby, leaving a surplus stockpile. <br />As this stockpile is located in Sierra Mojada South, the purchasers of lots in that phase were told that the surplus material was <br />to be divided equally among them for their use in building driveways and such for their home-sites. However, this does not <br />seem to be expressly stated as such in their purchase contracts. Furthermore, a local contractor was hired or allowed to <br />remove the material for another use, possibly to gravel driveways in another phase of the development or completely off-site. <br />In any event, it appears that the material originally intended to be used for development of the subdivision is now finding its <br />way off-site and into other uses. There is still a sizeable stockpile of material (2,000-3,000 cubic yards) on site. It is obvious <br />that an equally sizeable amount has already been hauled off site recently. The disturbance associated with this material is <br />relatively stable with acceptable slopes although it does not appear that a lot of effort was expended in reclaiming the <br />disturbance. Since material is or was being taken off site, and the future disposition of the remaining material is unclear, this <br />may now be considered an illegal mining operation. <br />Therefore, A Reason to Believe that a Possible Violation Exists Letter is being sent to the present landowner, both developers <br />and the contractor. If the board makes a determination that a violation exists, the violator(s) may be required to implement <br />corrective actions ordered by the board, which could include submitting and receiving approval for an application for a <br />reclamation permit by the board ordered date. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME: <br />OPERATOR: <br />STREET: <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP: <br />cc: t CE <br />T' BL <br />t FS <br />t HW <br />T HMWMD (CH) <br />T SE <br />t WQCD (CH) <br />t OTHER <br />