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MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-1985-16-5 <br />INSPECTION DATE: 10106/9008 INSPECTOR=S INITIALS: 11E <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection of the Winter Ranch Pit; permit number M-1985-165. This site is <br />located about ten miles north of the town of Trinidad, Colorado in Las Animas County. I, Jared Ebert of the <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety conducted the inspection. Mr. Arthur Winter, the son of <br />Mr. Harold Winter accompanied me on the inspection. <br />The permit area allowed for this site is 9.5 acres. This site is situated on top of a plateau. Based on past records <br />about this pit, there appeared to be an excavation in the area prior to the issuance of this permit. The current <br />approved mine plan map displays an odd shaped permit boundary. Only two posts have been placed to the west <br />of the pit excavation to delineate the western boundary of the permit area. A recent pit excavation exists just <br />east of the two posts. At this time, there does not appear to be an adequate map displaying the permit area. <br />Given this, and with the old excavation on the plateau, it is difficult to determine if the operation is contained <br />within its boundary. This is cited as a problem on the last page of this report. <br />One pile of material is located to the south of the pit excavation. Mr. Winter said that this was the topsoil from <br />the pit excavation. The pile appeared stable, and various weeds were established on the pile. The pile was <br />supposed to be seeded with Annual Rye, Sweet Clover and Crested Wheat grass. At this time it appears that <br />only the crested wheat grass is established on the topsoil pile. <br />The current highwall is about 980 feet in length, and it ranges from 5-15 feet in height. <br />To the east of the current pit excavation, there appears to have been a mine disturbance some years ago, various <br />piles of material are in place and appeared stable with native grasses and forbs established in the area. <br />Overall, the location of the permit boundary needs to be clarified. The operator will need to submit a Technical <br />Revision to the Division that contains a new mine plan map and reclamation plan map. Both maps must be in <br />accordance with common map elements identified in Rule 6.2.1 (2); such as, the maps must display the name of <br />the operator, and they must be signed by a registered land surveyor, professional engineer or another qualified <br />person. The date that the map was prepared must also be displayed on the maps. The maps must identify and <br />outline the area which corresponds with the permit area. The scale should be no larger then 1 inch = 50 feet nor <br />smaller than linch =660 feet. Given the size of the permit area, it seems that a scale of linch =150 feet should <br />be appropriate to adequately delineate the permit boundaries. Also, the following items must be displayed on <br />the maps; the scale, the legend, the map title, the date, and the north arrow. Enclosed with this report is a copy <br />of Rule 6.3.5 which described the other features that need to be displayed in the mine plan map and the <br />reclamation plan map. The fee for a Technical Revision is $216.00. <br />As stated in the second paragraph, there were only two posts on the western end of the permit area delineating <br />the western boundary. The operator will need to mark all the boundaries of the permit area. The boundaries <br />will need to be marked by monuments or other markers that are clearly visible and adequate in size and number <br />to delineate such boundaries. This is pursuant to rule 3.1.12(2). <br />The current financial warranty held for this site does not appear adequate at this time. It was determined that <br />the financial warranty should be approximately $18,200. This issue will be addressed under a separate letter <br />from the Division. <br />2