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Permit #: M-1985-038 <br />Inspector's Initials: DMC <br />Inspection Date: 11/26/2010 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was conducted as part of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) normal <br />monitoring program. Michael Golliher and Pete Bartlett, representing the Colorado Lien Company, were present during <br />the inspection. Photographs are included at the end of this report to illustrate some of the conditions observed during <br />this inspection. <br />The Rifle Quarry is located approximately 12 miles northeast of Rifle, and accessed from Highway 325, through the fish <br />hatchery parking lot. The approximate GPS coordinates at the mine site entrance are 39.696419°, -107.706578°. The site <br />consists of 40 permitted acres, of which, less than 5 acres have been disturbed by the mining operation. The site was an <br />old quarry that was previously disturbed, before being permitted by the Colorado Lien Company in 1985. Very little, if <br />any, open mining has occurred at this site since issuance of the reclamation permit. The site was placed in temporary <br />cessation in 1987, and then granted intermittent status in 1993. Since then, it appears that no open mining has occurred <br />at the site, and that the only material removed from the site came from preexisting stockpiles. <br />The currently approved reclamation plan for this site consists of backfilling the quarried areas with overburden material, <br />and creating a series of benches approximately 40 feet wide and separated by 2H:1V slopes. It has been stated by the <br />operator that future mining at the site is not anticipated. Since completion of the approved reclamation plan will not be <br />possible without significant mining occurring first, it has been recommended to the operator to revise the reclamation <br />plan so that the site may be released in the near future. <br />An adequate mine identification sign and boundary markers were noted during the inspection. <br />No fuels or other hazardous materials are stored on site. <br />Some erosion was noted in the access road area along the south side of the quarry. The operator had installed several <br />erosion control features in this area that have significantly reduced the amount of erosion occurring, but given the <br />topography of the area, it appears that some erosion will be inevitable until vegetation is adequately established. There <br />are no structures immediately below the site that appear to be at risk due to runoff or sedimentation from the site. <br />The quarry area had been graded, stabilized and seeded prior to this inspection. Some vegetation was noted at the site, <br />but had not yet become adequately established. There is no topsoil available for reclamation at this site, and a revision <br />to the seed mix may be necessary to establish vegetation. <br />There are no processing facilities on site and no potential for off-site damage was observed. <br />No problems or violations were noted during this inspection. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Dustin Czapla at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br />Safety, Grand Junction Field Office, 101 South 3'd Street, Room 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone number <br />(970) 243-6299.