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PERMIT #: M-2000-053 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: JLE <br />INSPECTION DATE: December 9, 2010 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection of the Castillo Pit; DRMS File No. M-2000-053, operated by Las <br />Animas County. This site is located 12 miles west of Trinidad, Colorado in Las Animas County. I, Jared Ebert of <br />the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) conducted the inspection. Mr. Phil <br />Dorenkamp accompanied me on the inspection. <br />This is a 18.74 acre 112c mining operation for road base material used to maintain county roads. The mine <br />entrance sign was not in place at the entrance of the mine site. This issue is cited as a problem at the <br />beginning of this report and will require corrective action to be taken by the Operator. The permit boundary <br />was marked with metal posts. <br />An old cemetery is located near the northwest corner of the site. The County had committed to maintaining a <br />15 foot setback from the cemetery. The boundary of the setback was marked with metal T-posts. It did not <br />appear land has been affected within the 15 foot setback. The Operator has mined around the cemetery <br />leaving a relatively shallow excavation. A pile of material is stored in this excavated area. Some of the pit <br />slopes appear to be a little steeper than the required 3:1 horizontal to vertical ratio. This area was primarily <br />vegetated with annual weeds. A steep dirt road leads down into the base of this excavation. Just east of this <br />area, the land rises to a flat plain where the Operator had processed the mined material. <br />The most recent excavated area is located in the northeast corner of the site. The excavation daylights to the <br />north. The pit slopes were approximately set at a 1:1 to 2:1 ratio. The pit floor was flat and covered with <br />annual weeds. The County is done mining in this area and plans on reclaiming the excavation next year. They <br />have committed to hauling in topsoil from the landowners property below the mining site to be used for <br />reclamation. Just south of this excavation, the land rises again to the top of a hill. This area is the location of <br />the original 110c mining area. Mining is complete in this area and the site has been graded and revegetated. <br />The vegetation consists of sparse grass and annual weeds. <br />Overall, mining is complete at the site. There are several berms that need to be removed or graded out. The <br />slopes of the northeast excavation need to be graded to a 3:1 ratio and topsoil needs to be applied. Some <br />grading needs to be done in the western excavation near the cemetery. Once the earthwork and topsoiling is <br />complete, the Operator will need to revegetate the affected land in accordance with the approved plan. <br />Page 2 of 5