2008-08-25_INSPECTION - M2004022

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MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-90n4-p99 INSPECTION DATE: g/g1l2( ng INSPECTOR=S INITIALS: JI F OBSERVATIONS This was a partial warranty reduction inspection for the Raindance Sand and Gravel Mine, M-2004-022. I, Jared Ebert of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety conducted the inspection. Mrs. Tracey Trybom of Connell Resources, Inc. accompanied me on the inspection. This site is located about one mile south of the town of Windsor, Colorado in Weld County. This site is to be reclaimed as a clay lined water storage reservoir and the area surrounding the reservoir it to be revegetated with native grasses and forbs specified in the approved reclamation plan. On July 14th, 2008 the Division received a partial warranty release request for this site from Applegate Group, Inc. representing Connell Resources. The letter indicated that Connell Resources would like the warranty reduced of their current bond of $466,700 to the amount it would cost to revegetate the stockpile sites, plant site, and the reservoir cut slopes. According to the letter, this acreage amounts to 10 acres. Upon review of the approved reclamation plan and a subsequent inspection of the site, it appears that more than 10 acres will need to be revegetated. Little to no native grasses or forbs appears to be established on the site, the majority of this site is covered with Kochia weed. This is cited as a problem on the last page of this inspection report. According to the approved reclamation plan, the access route to the site is to remain after. mining and reclamation is complete. The reservoir access route is also to remain on site after mining and reclamation is complete. The remainder of the area is to be reclaimed as rangeland. At this time the permit area directly to the west of the scale house contains numerous stockpiles of material, trailers, trucks, and various other construction equipment. The soil in this area is very compacted and will need to be ripped and covered with topsoil as per the reclamation plan. Also the various stockpiles and equipment will need to be removed and the area beneath them will need to be revegetated. The old "Surcharge reservoir" excavation area has been backfilled, but mining related equipment and stockpiles of material are stored on the site. The soils in this area also appear to be very compact, so this site will need to be ripped, and topsoil will need to be spread over the area. Once the growth medium is adequately spread on the site, the area will need to be revegetated. A very large stockpile of material exists on the north west edge of the reservoir, and the reservoir cut slopes are densely covered with Kochia weed. The area to the north of the reservoir is also densely covered with Kochia weed. To reclaim this area, the stockpile will need to be removed and the soil under it will need to be ripped and topsoil replaced. The Kochia weed will need to be treated in some fashion and the area will need to be revegetated. Overall, the top layer of soil on the site is very sandy; in order to establish the approved vegetation it may be necessary to import topsoil or another growth medium onto the site. It did not appear that a topsoil stockpile still existed on the site. It is assumed that the salvaged topsoil was already spread on the site and/or it was sold. As stated above, the majority of the area is densely covered with Kochia weed. It order to establish the approved vegetation on the site, the Kochia weed will need to be treated. Also, for the desired vegetation to become established, the operator may need to conduct a soil analysis to determine if the site requires additional growth medium and/or other soil amendments to be added. At this time, the bond can be reduced for the instillation of the reservoirs clay liner, and for backfilling and