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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: M-1999-025 <br />INSPECTION DATE: 11/23/2009 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS THM <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was conducted as part of the normal monitoring program established by the Colorado Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The Soaring Eagle Gravel Pit is located approximately 3 miles east of Fruita, <br />Colorado off of Highway 340. The site is a 112c operation. Ed Settle of Grand Junction Pipe and Supply Company <br />accompanied the inspector during the inspection. <br />The mine identification sign and boundary markers were in place and in compliance with rule 3.1.12. The sign is <br />located on a post at the main entrance on the southwest side of the gravel mine. <br />The mine was active at the time of the inspection. Stockpiles of various sizes of sand and gravel were observed in <br />Phase V. A hydraulic excavator was observed excavating, loading off-highway trucks that were observed off- <br />loading material along the southern edge of Phase III. A loader was observed loading on-highway haul trucks with <br />aterial. A variety of crushing and processing material was observed in the processing area but no active processing <br />mor crushing was observed during the inspection. All fuel tanks appeared to be stored in adequate secondary <br />containment. <br />The dike that was constructed along the northern permit boundary was observed during the inspection. The dike was <br />approved in TR-04. The dike is constructed to be 2 feet above the elevation of the 100 year floodplain. The dike <br />'appears to have been constructed according to the approved methods which includes using off-highway haul trucks <br />to transport the material and compaction was to be obtained by the loaded haul trucks rolling over the embankment. <br />A D-7 dozer was to be used to shape the embankment. Also, the operator committed to providing the Division with <br />a compaction report during the construction of the embankment. According to the Divisions records a compaction <br />'report has not been received. Please provide a copy of the compaction report as soon as possible but no later than <br />December 30, 2009. <br />Topsoil was observed stockpiled near the south east corner of Phase VI. The slopes of the topsoil stockpile were <br />steeper than the required 3H:1 V. Per Rule 3.1.9 (3), topsoil stockpiles shall be stored in places and configurations <br />to minimize erosion. The current configuration provides no protection from erosion and particularly the south side <br />of the topsoil stockpile is nearly vertical. Also, the topsoil stockpile shall be protected by a vegetative cover or other <br />means to protect topsoil from erosion and insure that topsoil is in usable condition for reclamation. The topsoil must <br />be re-configured with slopes no steeper than 3H:1 V and if the stockpile is to remain at this location through the next <br />growing season it must be seeded with an approved seed mix or other effective method no later than December 30, <br />2009. Please provide this office with photo-documentation that shows that the topsoil stockpile meets the <br />requirements of Rule 3.1.9. <br />Photos that show the conditions observed during the November 23, 2009 inspection are included at the end of this <br />(report. <br />!In an effort to ensure the financial warranty remains adequate to reclaim this site per the requirements of the <br />japproved reclamation plan, DRMS will update the reclamation cost estimate. The estimate will be forwarded to <br />'the operator under separate cover. <br />(Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Travis Marshall at the Division of Reclamation, Mining <br />and Safety, Grand Junction Field Office, 101 South 3`d Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone <br />no. 970-623-5596. <br />I