2008-10-22_INSPECTION - M2004017

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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-2004-017 INSPECTION DATE 10/02/08 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS PSH OBSERVATIONS The Kattenberg Pit, File No. M-2004-017, was inspected by Peter Hays with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) as part of the Division's 4-year monitoring inspection program. Mr. Steve Snyder with Willits Company, Inc. was present during the inspection. The Kattenberg Pit is located approximately 1.25 miles east of Granby, Colorado on State Highway 60. The site is permitted for 38.65 total acres with 33.39 affected acres and was previously inspected by the Division on December 29, 2004. The approved mining plan states mining will begin in the central part of the property near the old mine where a plant site will be established. Mining will create a split level pit avoiding an excessive highwall and allowing the site to be mined to the final slope. Mining will start to the north from the plant site creating a 50 to 60 foot high face when completed. Mining will progress north into the hillside at a temporary floor level until the exterior slope offset is reached. The east and west slopes will be mined to the final grade of 3:1. Once the northern mining limit is reached, the mining direction will reverse to the south and extend down to the final floor elevation. The active face will be mined vertically across the property except where it approaches the exterior slopes. In the slope area the face will be mined to the final 3:1 slope. The mining method will leave native material as the slope base. No mining activities were occurring during the inspection, however Mr. Snyder stated mining would restart the following week. Stockpiled material was being exported from the site during the inspection. The site has been mined to the northern boundary at the initial floor elevation and will continue to the east and west. The active highwall was approximately 25 feet high. The processing plant was located in the center of the pit and several stockpiles of material were observed. Reclamation has started along the east side of the entrance road. No other reclamation has occurred on site. Topsoil is stockpiled east of the entrance road and south of the pit. Overburden stockpiles were located west of the entrance road and along the east pit boundary. Approximately two feet of topsoil and overburden are available at the site for reclamation. The stockpiles were vegetated and stable. No erosion was noted during the inspection. Two ponds were observed in the northeast corner of the pit. The larger pond is used for supply water collected by runoff or imported water. The smaller pond is used for sedimentation. The Department of Wildlife easement was identified during the inspection. The Division currently holds a financial warranty of $57,100, which is adequate to complete the reclamation of the site based on the observations from this inspection. An entrance sign was posted and permit boundary markers were observed as required by Rule 3.1.12. No problems were noted during the inspection. I & E Contact Address NAME OPERATOR STREET CITY/STATE/ZIP Bob Willits Willits Company, Inc. P.O. Box 825 Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003 ? CE ? BL ? FS ? HW ? HMWMD (CH) ? SE ? WQCD (CH) Cc: Steve Shuey; DRMS