2009-05-13_REVISION - M1977140

• Permit No: M1977140
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 5/13/2009
• Doc Name: Adequacy review letter
• From: DRMS
• To: Mathias Concrete, Inc.
• Type & Sequence: TR3
• Email Name: RCO
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
May 13, 2009
g'W
MAY 10 2009
COLORADO
DIVISION OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Division Ot Recl;;MatiGrA, Harris D. Sherman
Thomas Mathias Mir,lig, and Safety Executive Director
Mathias Concrete, Inc. Ronald W. Cattany
PO BOX 266 Division Director
Monte Vista, CO 81144 Natural Resource Trustee
., v v ?
Re: North Farm Road Gravel Pit, Permit M-1977-140, Technical Revision TR-3, Adequacy Review Letter.
Dear Mr. Mathias,
I have reviewed the requested change to the reclamation plan of the permitted operation named above, specifically to
eliminate the requirement for topsoiling and seeding the pond banks. By itself the technical revision request is concise
and straightforward. Further review of pertinent portions of the permit file raised a few questions that should be
clarified before this office may consider an approval decision. Given the requested revision to allow the future bank
surfaces to remain un-vegetated, it is important to determine past stability and to ensure future stability. Please address
the following underlined items.
Under the present reclamation plan the gradient of the banks is required to be 5:1. The proposed reclamation plan
revision does not seek to change this 5:1 gradient, which is consistent with Construction Materials Rule 3.1.5(7). You
have stated that the banks are all presently 5:1. Please confirm whether the 5:1 slopes extend at least five feet above
the static water line, and at least ten feet below the static water line in conformance with the rule cited above. If they
are not all 5:1 within that 15-foot elevation range, some grading may be required.
The existing pond banks are mainly covered by native cobble, with minor portions containing willow thickets near the
water line, as observed during past inspections. The cobble surface has exhibited little to no damage from wave action
or erosion from surface runoff. Have there been attempts to apply topsoil and/or seed the pond banks in the past? If
so, was the topsoil eroded, and/or did seeding efforts fail? How long have the banks existed at the present 5.1
gradient? Has there been a need in the past to dress any of the slopes to remove damage?
The area affected under this permit has yielded varying amounts of topsoil, and little has been salvaged for reclaiming
the pond slopes. Please note that reclamation of the level portions of the permitted area will still require topsoil and
seeding as part of the reclamation plan. Given the scarcity of this resource that is required for reclamation please
confirm that efforts will continue to be made to carefully segregate and stockpile available topsoil and growth media
for future reclamation of the level facilities and processing area.
Though this revision request seeks to remove the requirement for seeding the slopes, this office encourages the
continued presence of the willow thickets, where they naturally spread and become established. There is no
requirement for planting the willows, though they can enhance and help stabilize the pond margins. However, as with
all affected areas in the permit, whether vegetated or not, reclaimed or not, noxious weeds must continue to be
regularly monitored and treated timely. Please confirm that weed control will continue to be carried out.

Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines