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~-- <br />2. The Ames Hyclro Plant began operation in the late 1800's. At the time, the plant <br />was powered by an open box flume. <br />3. The railroad tracks were abandoned and an embankment was constructed. <br />Technical Revision No. 3 of the Pathfinder Pit Mining Permit states the initial filling <br />occurred in 'iz~nd was done by railroad crews using attack-mounted steam <br />shovel and ~ra~l from the Pathfinder deposit. It is unknown if the trestle was <br />abandoned in-place and fill was placed around the timbers or if the trestle was <br />removed prior to constructing the embankment. <br />4. In 1956, Western Colorado Power, the previous owner of the power plant, replaced <br />the open box flume with a steel penstock. We understand the pipe was buried <br />within the embankment. We understand through PSCO that the embankment was <br />part of a primitive road following the old railroad grade, used for light, occasional <br />traffic by PSCO and previous owners for maintaining the pipeline. <br />5. In 1984, Colorado Ute (another former owner of the power plant and penstock) <br />replaced the steel pipe in a 2,208 foot reach with fiberglass pipe manufactured by <br />Ershigs. <br />6. In 1993, Pathfinder started using the embankment to access a gravel pit. We <br />understand initial traffic was minimal. <br />7. In 1994, grading for the road by Pathfinder caused damage to the fiberglass pipe. <br />The pipe was repaired by a contractor retained by PSCO. The ramp from Colorado <br />145 and 975 feet of access road to the Pathfinder Pit were constructed in 1994. <br />We understand the original embankment was not substantially widened at that <br />time. <br />8. In the Spring of 1997, the repair made following the damage by Pathfinder to the <br />fiberglass pipe failed, which created a washout and resulting earthflow into the <br />valley below the embankment. Repairs were made to the pipe and embankment <br />during 1997. <br />9. During the pipe repairs conducted in 1997, we understand PSCO excavated next <br />to and around the pipe at regular intervals and installed anchors on the uphill <br />(east) side connected to the pipe with straps. The anchors consisted of timber <br />beams buried in the embankment an unknown distance uphill. <br />10. In 1998-99 Pathfinder placed fill along the downhill (west) side of the original <br />embankment, without consulting PSCO. Representatives of PSCO have estimated <br />PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO <br />AMES HYDRO PENSTOCK <br />CTL/T 37,8dB Z <br />