2008-09-16_INSPECTION - M1999038

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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1999-038 INSPECTION DATE 9/5/08 OBSERVATIONS INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This inspection was performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 110 permits. The operator was contacted about the scheduled inspection. The operator's representative named on page one was present during the inspection. The site was identified by the required permit ID sign and several of the permit boundary markers were observed. All disturbance was inside the boundary. The operator should ensure that all of the permit boundary is adequately marked, even where activities are not near the boundary. There has not been much if any activity here in several years, and the site has been revegetating itself. Above the pit where the soil has not been stripped yet, there is an even carpet of stunted kochia and blue asters. The operator is prudent in not stripping the topsoil too far in advance of the highwall, since such disturbance often worsens a weedy condition. This is not a problem at this time. The pit is dry, with no surface water exposed. The highwall was excavated vertically but lately has shown some limited sloughing. The operator must ensure that the topsoil piled above the pit and near the highwall gets moved before it is damaged by further sloughing. This is not a problem at this time. There has been no reclamation performed to-date. The operator wishes to begin building up the "mouth" of the pit in anticipation of eventually impounding water and forming a pond. The east wall of the pit is in its final location and could also be sloped to its final gradient and topsoiled. This earthwork is part of final reclamation, and once finished, maybe deleted from the bonded liability, if it will not be redisturbed. Such bond reductions must be initiated by the operator (please refer to Rule 4.14 and 4.17). At this time, this office must recalculate the bond amount, based on thesite condition and the approved reclamation plan. The operator may influence the bond amount by performing some reclamation and reporting it. There was one condition noted during the inspection that is noted in this report as a problem: the pit floor contains dozens of small to medium tamarisk (aka salt cedar) plants that have invaded and are becoming established. Also, on the immediate north side of the ramp road down into the pit and across the mouth of the pit is a patch of spotted knapweed . Up on the unmined ground west of the pit is a small isolated patch of Russian knapweed. These species are all considered noxious weeds and are required by law to be controlled. The operator stated that he might try applying a chemical called "Milestone" to the weeds, but he should check the label or with an experienced applicator first. These weeds are noted as a problem on page one and the corrective action is to develop an adequate weed control plan in consultatiion with the county's weed control officer Rod Cook (A copy of this report is being sent to him see address below.) The weed control plan must be added to the permit's approved plans through a technical revision. Seethe last page of this report for the correction date. The operator should note that progress toward control of these weeds must be demonstrated during the first few years to avoid Board action. No further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to this inspector at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 691 County Road 233, Suite A-2, Durango, Colorado 81301. (Please note: As of 7/1/08 the Durango Field Office moved to the new address shown above. Please revise your records as necessary.) I & E Contact Address NAME OPERATOR STREET CITY/STATE/ZIP Brad Rowe Rowe Gravel 9134 CR 100 Hesperus. CO 81326 cc: Steve Shuey, DBMS ? CE ? BL ? FS ? HW ? HMWMD (CH) ? SE ? WQCD (CH) ? OTHER Cc: Rod Cook, La Plata County Weed Control Officer, 2500 N Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301