REP16137 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• TO: State of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman S[., Room 21 S Denver, CO 80203 FROM: Kelly Salmon Plant Manager TXI, Boulder)I I RE: Permit No. M8988p08, DATI?: 3/22/00 II II ~ iii iiiiiiiiiiiu iii Westem Aggregates, Mining Report Data i~~V~~. ,,^,pR 03 2000 of ,.:~rerab 8 Geos Western received your letter requesting further data as it relates to the mining and quarry status for the Hwy. 93 operation. We have included an aerial photo that was taken two months ago. The photo shows the operations as a whole, including the mining site located on the West Side of Hwy. 93. Western has set up a proceiiure to have the mine flown at least once a year; this will enable us to provide an annual updated photo with the report. TXI purchased this operation from fNCO in December of 1997. The mine was in serious disarray at that time and we have spent the last 18 months restruchuing the mine for full operation. Most of the work durinf; that time frame was related to properly benching the quarry for access [o the shale that was left at the bottom of the pit. The overburden was stripped off and the pit entrance road re-d'treded, this further impacted several disturbed acres to the south of the original pit. These changes will allow better and safer access. to the quarry without undo strain on machinery. Proper benching of the quarry is approximately 80% complete; this allows access to the last 30 fat of shale included in the mine plan. Westem aggregates is presently continuing the effort to complete all benching needed to reach maximum efficiency in the mine. We expect to reach the planned floor elevation of the pit durnnf; the next year. Mining will continue moving the benched area further to the south and east as planned. Weather permitting, and when the floor of the pit is finalized, portions of the reclamation could start during the next 12 months. Currently we believe there is enough overburden material stored to complete reclamation of the entve north end of the pit. In anticipation of ralamation procedures, overburden materials were stockpiled on the north side of the existing pit. Materials were placed here to minimize rehandling and to minimize erosion. Preliminary studies for the best erosion control vegetation that will provide the greatest probability of success considering the conditions are aUeady underway. Western is preparing to implement the ralamation plan starting at the north end. We have also re-directed draining systems to control erosion in the general mine as well. Western has implemented a diffuse knapweed eradication program, which includes not only the mine property but also, the area where the main plant is located. The eradication spraying reports are on file and can review if needed. This eradication effort will continue every year to assist in the countywide effort against the diffuse knapweed problem.