_PERMIT FILE - M1997092 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: M1997092
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Name: RED CREEK RANCH AT HATCHET
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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Red Creek Ranch at Hatchet
This item is being brought before the mined land reclamation board as a declaratory order request
to determine whether or not the operr�Y��(1o�n�s being conducted require a\reclamation permit. 0-N ._ L Tea � PI�r-.,tc SAn , .2 \'ct"7`P7c� V�4 � 27+ C� ��M�� 1 �� �a Ca J—
On July 16, 1996, the division received a petition requesting an exemption from obtaining a
reclamation permit for road building activities on a ranch subdivision. The operator, Red Creek
Ranch, of Pueblo submitted a completed "Is It Mining" survey indicating the proposed activities.
On July 18, 1996, Bruce Humphries sent back a letter indicating that he had reviewed the petition
and based on his review the proposed activities would not require a reclamation permit. You
have a copy of this petetion for your review along with Bruce's response letter.
On September 8, 1997, the office received a complaint from the Huerfano County Building
Inspection Department about a possible illegal operation on the Hatchet Ranch which is another
subdi,& ranch owned by red Creek Ranch. Information was sketchy but indicated that gravel
material was being hauled off of the Hatchet Ranch site. Our records did not indicate a permitted
site at the reported location.
I conducted an inspection on September 17, 1997 to determine if there was a mine located at the
reported location and if any of this material was being hauled off site. I did locate a small pit and
a stockpile of clean gravel material, however, there was no sign of any activity occurring during
the inspection and no evidence that any material had been hauled off site. It was evident that the
stockpiled material had been used to surface the main roads in the ranch development.
Upon returning to the office I contacted the complainant to discuss my findings and he put me in
touch with another local contractor who stated that he had witnessed material being used for
other projects besides surfacing the main ranch roads. I also contacted Mr. O'Brien to determine
whether the pit was on the Hatchet Ranch and what it was being used for. Mr. O'Brien
indicated that the pit was being used primarilary to surface the ranch development roads,
however, some of the excess material was being used to build driveways into some of the
property owners homesites.
Since Red Creek Ranch had not requested a petition to exempt the Hatchet Ranch form needing a
reclamation permit as they had their other ranch, I sent another "Is It Mining" letter to Mr.
O'Brien regesting that he fill one out for the Hatchet Ranch and resubmit the Red Creek Ranch
petetion to clarify exactly how the material was being used. You have copies of these letters for
your review. As you can see on page two under item 11, the original petetion indicated that no
monetary compensation would be received, and under the second submittal, this was clarified to
indicate that reimbursement for crushing costs would occur with some homeowners.
Since this clarification was made, Mr. Humphries felt that the Board should decide whether or
not the proposed activities required a reclamation permit.
There are four items for you review to assist you in making this determination.