Laserfiche WebLink
(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-2002-122 <br />INSPECTION DATE 01/16/09 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS PSH <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />The Boyer Pit, File No. M-2002-122, was inspected by Peter Hays with the Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) as part of the Division's 4-year monitoring <br />inspection program. Mr. Kent Beach with Seifert Construction was present during the <br />inspection. <br />The Boyer Pit is located approximately 12 miles south of Westcliffe, Colorado. The site <br />is permitted for 140 acres with a maximum allowed disturbance of 10 acres at a time, <br />including haul roads and processing areas. The pit was previously inspected by the <br />Division on January 8, 2004. . <br />All mining related disturbance was limited to the permitted area north of County Road 105 <br />within Phase 1 of the Boyer Pit. The Division estimated 8 acres of disturbance during the <br />inspection. Mining in the southern portion of Phase 1 is complete and Mr. Beach stated <br />reclamation would begin during 2009. The northern portion of Phase 1 is currently being <br />mined as indicated in the 2008 annual report. Mr. Beach estimated Phase 1 would require 2 <br />years of mining to complete. <br />The southern portion of Phase 1 was mined approximately 12 feet deep and the northern <br />portion was mined approximately 20 feet deep. The excavation depths are within the <br />approved 45 foot maximum excavation depth. In both areas, mining stopped when fine sand <br />was encountered according to Mr. Beach. The product stockpiles located on the east side <br />of Phase 1 will be relocated to the south and west as mining progresses from the north and <br />west. The processing plant is scheduled be located in the south end of Phase 1 to limit <br />visual impact from State Highway 69 in the future, however no plant was observed during <br />the inspection. Mining will proceed to Phase 9, a 7 acre site east of Phase 1, following <br />the completion of Phase 1. <br />The 200 foot offset to Highway 69, 25 foot offset to County Road 105, 100 foot offset to <br />Froze Creek and all other permit offsets were confirmed during the inspection. <br />The approved post mining land use is rangeland. Topsoil and overburden stockpile were <br />located in the middle of Phase 1. Reclamation activities have not started at the site. <br />The mined areas and stockpiles appeared stable and no erosion was noted during the <br />inspection. <br />No fuel storage or exposed groundwater were observed on site. The only equipment located <br />on site during the inspection was a front-end loader. Mr. Beach stated the mine is <br />contract mined with a mobile processing plant. <br />The Division currently holds a financial warranty of $19,300, which is adequate to <br />complete the reclamation of the site based on the observations from this inspection. Mr. <br />Beach stated Seifert Construction may want to submit a technical revision to increase the <br />maximum allowed disturbance to 13 acres, which would include all of Phase 1, in order to <br />allow for additional room to operate the mine. The Division has calculated the required <br />reclamation bond to increase the disturbed area to 13 acres at $35,600, which is an <br />increase of $16,300. A copy of the 13 acre bond estimate and Rule 1.9.1 - Technical <br />Revision to a Permit are attached for review and reference. <br />An entrance sign was posted and permit boundary markers were observed as required by Rule <br />3.1.12. No problems were noted during the inspection.