Laserfiche WebLink
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: --M-1993-088 <br />INSPECTION DATE: June 2. 9nin INSPECTORS INITIALS: 11F <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a monitoring inspection of the Gunkel Pit, DRMS File No. M-1993-088, operated by Baca County. This <br />site is located approximately 11 miles north and 2 miles west of Springfield, Colorado in Baca County. I, Jared <br />Ebert of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety conducted the inspection. Mr. Jason <br />Freiberger of Baca County accompanied me on the inspection. <br />This is a 160 acre 112c mining operation. The proper mine identification sign and permit boundary markers <br />were posted. The current affected land was measured based on a 2009 aerial photograph and found to be <br />about 19.8 acres. The Operator is currently only approved to affect 20 acres at a time. If the County wishes to <br />affect any additional land, they will need to reclaim a portion of the affected land and have it released by the <br />Division, or they must file a Technical Revision to the approved mining plan to increase the maximum affected <br />land that can occur at any given time during the mining operation. <br />The current mining operation is located in the southwestern corner of the permit area. There is a horseshoe <br />shaped pit excavation primarily advancing to the east and a little way to the south daylighting to the west. <br />The pit slopes are set at various angles ranging from 2:1 to 3:1 slopes. The topsoil and overburden is <br />stockpiled along the southern permit boundary adjacent to the southern portion of the pit excavation. <br />Another topsoil stockpile is located adjacent to the haul road. These piles appear stable with vegetative cover. <br />The Operator intends on advancing the pit excavation to the east. <br />The northern portion of the pit excavation has been graded to a 4:1 ratio or less. According to Mr. Freiberger <br />the County seeded the site with the approved seed mixture. It appears native Buffalo and Blue Grama grass <br />has begun to establish in portions of this area. However, the primary grass species established in the <br />reclaimed area is introduced Crested Wheatgrass and Japanese Brome grass which is not the approved grass <br />species. This is cited as a Problem at the end of this report and will require corrective action to be taken by <br />the Operator. The County will need to treat the introduced grass species and replant the area with the <br />approved grass seed mixture (Sand Bluestem, Blue Grama, Side Oats grama and Western Wheatgrass). A copy <br />of the approved seed mixture outlined in the reclamation plan is enclosed with this report. <br />Figure 1.) Reclaimed portion of the pit excavation <br />where the wrong grass species has established. <br />Figure 2.) Center of the pit excavation looking east.