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PERMIT #: M-1983-039 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: JLE <br />INSPECTION DATE: December 9, 2010 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection of the Airport Gravel Pit; DRMS File No. M-1983-039; operated by Las Animas <br />County. This site is located approximately three miles south of Hoehne, Colorado in Las Animas County. I, Jared Ebert <br />of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety conducted the inspection. Mr. Phil Dorenkamp of Las <br />Animas County accompanied me on the inspection. <br />This is a 152 acre 112c mining operation for gravel and road base material used by the County to maintain the county road <br />system. There are two active mining areas at this site, denoted in this report as the east pit and the west pit. Much of this <br />area has been mined and subsequently reclaimed by the County. Also, there is one small pit excavation that does not <br />appear to be used frequently near the center of the site. <br />The west pit area consists of an excavation 10 to 15 feet deep. Impounded storm water or exposed ground water was <br />observed in the base of the pit. Mr. Dorenkamp stated the pit is usually dry and was unaware water was in the pit. This <br />issue will be discusses in further detail below. Overburden and topsoil have been stripped and stockpiled in random <br />berms on the north and west side of the excavation. The County is reminded if these piles of topsoil and overburden are <br />to remain stockpiled for longer than 180 days, they must seed these piles with the NRCS recommended seedmixture <br />outlined in the reclamation plan as they committed to during the permitting process. Mining appears to be advancing to <br />the east and to the south in this area. A small processing area is adjacent to the pit excavation to the north. The County <br />had mined the land directly to the north of the current excavation/processing area. The majority of this area had been <br />graded. The western pit slopes have been graded to a 3:1 horizontal to vertical ratio and the floor was relatively flat. <br />Topsoil has been spread in this area, however very little desired vegetation has established. The majority of this area was <br />covered with annual weeds. <br />At the center of the permit area, there is a small but relatively deep pit excavation surrounded by mounds of soil and piles <br />of wood. Mr. Dorenkamp was not sure the purpose of this excavation. It appears ground water has been exposed in this <br />small pit and aquatic vegetation and algae has established in the pit indicating the water has been there for some time. <br />Similar to the west pit, the area surrounding this excavation and the stockpiles have been mined and reclaimed by the <br />County. This land has been graded and topsoiled but very little desired vegetation has established. <br />The east pit consists of a processing area to the north and a pit excavation to the south. The excavation is about 5 to 10 <br />feet deep with 2:1 to near vertical highwalls in places. The mining operation will advance to the south. Just east of the <br />current excavation, there is an area that had been previously mined. Portions of this area have been graded and topsoiled, <br />however a small excavation and a material stockpile are still present in this area. <br />If ground water is exposed during the mining process, or if a pit excavation impounds surface water for longer than 72 <br />hours, the Operator must obtain a temporary substitute water supply plan and/or a well permit from the Office of the State <br />Engineer (SEO). Mr. Dorenkamp indicated the western pit had been dry not too long ago, and he was un-aware of the <br />water exposed in the central pit excavation. If the water remains exposed/impounded, the County will need to bring <br />themselves into compliance with the SEO. This issue is cited as a problem at the beginning of this report and will require <br />corrective action to be taken by the Operator. Mr. Dorenkamp stated he would monitor the site to see if the water remains <br />in the pits. If so, the County will bring in equipment to backfill the excavations above the ground water table. <br />Also, as indicated above, a large portion of this site has been mined and reclaimed with very little re-vegetation success. <br />Mr. Dorenkamp explained the County owns the property and has a grazing lease in place so cattle are allowed to feed <br />throughout the permit area. Once operation have ceased the County will conduct a final seeding. During that time, the <br />County will need to exclude cattle from the property until the desired vegetation has established and become self <br />sufficient. <br />Page 2 of 5