Laserfiche WebLink
(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-2001-069 <br />INSPECTION DATE 3/3/10 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO <br />This was a pre-operation inspection performed by the Division as part of the review of a Construction Materials Regular <br />112c permit Amendment and a monitoring inspection of the existing permitted area. The operator was contacted about <br />the scheduled inspection. The operator's representatives named on page one were present during the inspection. There <br />was a bit of snow cover, but it did not prevent the inspection. <br />The site was not active at the time of the inspection. The required permit ID sign was posted at the entrance to the site, <br />and all boundaries were adequately marked. No mining-related activity was observed outside the permitted area. <br />AMENDMENT AM-1: The amendment notice was posted near the western entrance to the permitted area. The area to <br />be added under this amendment (AM-1) is on the north side of the existing permit area, and will adjoin the northern edge <br />of the new north pit. There has been no mining-related disturbance in the amendment area. The amendment area <br />consists of level dry rangeland. Predominant vegetation existing there includes rabbitbrush and blue grama, with minor <br />amounts of Russian thistle. No noxious weeds were noted. The area is bordered) by fencelines on the east and north. <br />The entrance to the site will shift to the NW corner after the approval of this amendment, and the existing entrance <br />location will be abandoned when it becomes part of the pit in the final stage of mining. <br />Operations will consist of stripping topsoil in advance of mining and stockpiling it along the edges of the affected area. <br />The topsoil layer is about 12 inches thick, overlying a deep consistent aggregate deposit. The existing permitted pit will <br />be expanded northward and eastward into the amendment area. This is consistent with the existing plan. No <br />groundwater will be exposed during mining or as part of final reclamation. <br />EXISTING PERMIT: The asphalt hot plant is still set up in the central part of the site. All fuel and fluids are stored in <br />tanks above 20-mil PE lined secondary containment. There is a stockpile of waste asphalt near the hot plant, which will <br />be ground up and recycled (and removed from the site). There are stockpiles of various gravel products throughout this <br />central area. <br />Phase III in the newer pit, NW of the asphalt plant, has been backfilled with fines from onsite processing. Approximately <br />one acre has been backfilled the full 15-ft depth, up to surrounding grade, re-creating level ground upon which operations <br />and staging may occur. No settling or cracking was noted. Additional backfilling will occur as more such material is <br />generated. These backfilled areas may be left as part of final reclamation. Recent topsoil stockpiles are located on the pit <br />floor, protected from mining and processing activities. It will be spread in this pit when mining ceases here. <br />SOUTH PIT: South of the hot plant and stockpile area is an irrigation ditch crossing the site from west to east. There are <br />no stockpiles or equipment south of the irrigation ditch. South of this ditch is the fiirst pit created by permitted mining at <br />this site. It is fully mined and is now graded and topsoiled for final reclamation. The site was seeded in 2009, but snow <br />cover prevented inspection of the unestablished vegetation. The south pit does not expose groundwater, but its proximity <br />to the Rio Grande Canal (located immediately south of the pit, offsite) prompted the canal management to enter into <br />agreement with the operator to allow diversions from the canal into the pit as a recharge facility. A diversion ditch was <br />dug in 2009 to facilite this. Documentation of this agreement and the approval of the Division of Water Resources is part <br />of the permit file. Due to the approved long-term use of the south pit as a recharge pond, final reclamation of the pit and <br />slopes will only consist of topsoiling and revegetating down to the anticipated high water line. All other reclamation above <br />the pit remains unchanged. The operator stated that they wished to pursue release of the area south of the irrigation ditch <br />in 2010. To request release of the south area, the operator may initiate the release by following the steps described in <br />Construction Materials Rules 4.14 and 4.17. <br />Note: A small patch of Russian knapweed was observed along the irrigation ditch. This must be treated in a timely <br />manner and eliminated from the site (due to its small size, this will possible in just a few years.) If the patch is noted to be <br />larger in future inspections, this will become a problem. <br />No problems and no further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be <br />directed to this inspector at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 691 County Road 233, Suite A-2, Durango, <br />Colorado 81301. (Please note: As of 7/1/08 the Durango Field Office moved Ito the new address, shown above. <br />Please revise your records as necessary.)