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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM <br />Date: 21 April 2010 <br />To: Sandra L. Brown <br />From: Marcia L. Talvitie, P.E. <br />Subject: New Horizon Mine -Permit No. C-1981-008 <br />Topsoil and Subsoil Handling Operations <br />Summary of Field Observations <br />COLORADO <br />D I V I S I ON OF <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />Bill Ritter, Jr. <br />Governor <br />James B. Martin <br />Executive Director <br />Topsoil salvage, storage and redistribution operations at the New Horizon Mine have been <br />regularly inspected by Division personnel since the presence of Prime Farmland soils was <br />recognized in early 2008. Observations made during site inspections and in periodic review of <br />aerial photographs confirm that topsoil activities continue to be conducted in a manner consistent <br />with the methods agreed to with the NRCS in February 2008 and incorporated into the permit <br />with TR-57. <br />On the Morgan property, topsoil salvage begins with the removal of Lift A material. Lift A <br />topsoil, typically up to 3 feet in thickness, is stripped westward, using a bulldozer, and pushed <br />into an elongated temporary stockpile. The mine's shovel is then used to scoop up the topsoil <br />and load it into haul trucks which carry the material to the designated Lift A stockpile located <br />east of the active pit area on Morgan property. Alfalfa roots are prevalent throughout the entire <br />thickness of Lift A and well into Lift B. <br />Lift B topsoil is subsequently salvaged in a similar manner, although the material is not stripped <br />as far westward as the Lift A topsoil has been. This process results in a stair-step appearance, <br />wherein each lift creates its own bench with an outer berm for safety and/or sediment control. <br />Thicknesses of the B Lift are quite variable, and have been observed to range from less than 5 <br />feet to as much as 10 feet on the Morgan property. The entire thickness of Lift B topsoil is <br />salvaged, loaded into haul trucks, and carried to the Lift B topsoil stockpile, also located to the <br />east of (behind) the active pit. <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines