Laserfiche WebLink
(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID M-1999-nh9 <br />INSPECTION DATE: 10.114/2008 INSPECTOR=S INITIALS: F( -S <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was an inspection requested by the operator for the final release of approximately 7.9 acres on the east <br />side of the Pit #3 area. Applegate Group submitted a final release request for this acreage on behalf of the <br />Kauffman & Sons operation to release this property from the permit area on September 30, 2008. No bond <br />adjustment was requested. If released, the property would be turned over to the owner to use as cattle <br />pasture. The inspection was conducted by Eric Scott of DRMS on October 14, 2008. DRMS met with Ty <br />Thompson of Applegate Group Inc., and Mr. Troy Kauffman of Kauffman and Sons at the site office at <br />approximately 1400. The site entrance is located off the east side of Larimer County Road 9E approximately 1/2 <br />mile north of Highway 402 in Larimer County. Access to the area inspected required travel through the <br />operations of the site, so DRMS and Applegate accompanied Mr. Kauffman to the reclaimed area, which is still <br />under their control. <br />The primary focus of this inspection was to observe the existing conditions of the 7.9 acre reclaimed area, and <br />to determine if reclamation activities have been successfully completed so that the area may be released from <br />the permitted area of the site. The site has been reclaimed as pastureland per the approved reclamation plan, <br />and is still under the control of the Kauffman and Sons operation. Mr. Kauffman stated that the property owner <br />would be using the area, along with another five acres released the previous year, as cattle pasture if/when it <br />was released from the permit area. <br />After a brief site orientation by Mr. Kauffman, DRMS walked the area. It was noted that all mining activity had <br />long since ended in the area, and the backfilling and re-grading/leveling of the area had been well done. <br />According to the release request, the area had been seeded in the fall of 2005 and irrigated with a sprinkler <br />system to establish vegetation, although the sprinkler system had been removed at the time of the inspection. <br />During the site inspection, it was stated that seeding took place in the fall of 2007 for the 7.9 acres that were the <br />subject of this release request, so only one growing season has passed for this area. Vegetation in the area <br />appeared to be well started and healthy. There was evidence of recent mowing by the operator to control <br />weeds, but it appeared from the amount of dead weed material on the ground that additional or earlier <br />mowing may have been useful to control the weed growth and favor the pasture grasses. However, this dead <br />material will likely provide good ground cover to encourage additional beneficial vegetation. DRMS collected <br />several photos of the area to document current site conditions. It was noted that the acreage previously <br />released was in good condition with few weeds and very good vegetative coverage. <br />This concluded the inspection and DRMS left the site at approximately 1510. <br />The site topography has been well restored and the pasture vegetation is establishing well. DRMS believes that <br />this 7.9 acre area meets the requirements for release from the permit at this time. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME: Frank Kauffman <br />OPERATOR: Kauffman and Sons <br />STREET: 808 South County Road 9F <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP: I nvPlnnd CCU 80537 <br />cc: r CE <br />F BL <br />F FS <br />IF H W <br />F HMWMD (CH) <br />F SE <br />F WQCD (CH) <br />F OTHER