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PERMIT #: M-1987-019 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: RCO <br />INSPECTION DATE: March 1, 2011 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a routine inspection performed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 110 <br />permits. Patrick Sullivan of Rio Grande County Road and Bridge, representing the operator, was present <br />throughout the inspection. There was very little snow cover, and much of the site was fairly muddy. The site <br />was not active on the day of the inspection. <br />Backfilling and Grading: <br />Most of the pit slopes have gradients of more or less 3:1, which is the final slope gradient. The north and west <br />pit slopes are approximately in their final locations, and may only need minor earthwork. The pit floor is <br />generally level with only a few small stockpiles of product in the pit. <br />Hydrologic Balance: <br />The pit floor is above groundwater, and it does not exhibit any sign of alkaline leaching or ponding water. The <br />irrigation ditch along the north boundary does not percolate into the pit when it runs. <br />Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan: <br />The operator has crushed here in the past, and several stockpiles of various products remain onsite. The pit <br />contain several small stockpiles, and two large stockpiles are up on the unmined portion of the permitted area <br />along the south side. A grizzly was the only piece of equipment onsite. There was no fuel or other fluids <br />stored onsite. <br />Within the present permit boundary, some pit expansion may occur to the south, but there is little room left <br />on the north or west. The operator stated that they might want to add land to the permitted area toward the <br />east, where significant acreage is available. Adding land to the permit requires approval of a permit <br />amendment. If adding land to this permit would increase the acreage to ten acres or more, the operator <br />would have to request a conversion to a 112c permit. Please contact this office if there are questions about <br />this. <br />Reclamation Success: <br />Besides the slope grading, there has been no other final reclamation carried out. <br />Revegetation: <br />Some of the older pit slopes contain volunteer revegetation, such as rabbitbrush and asters, but there has <br />been no seeding performed yet. There were no noxious weeds observed, and the operator stated that the <br />local weed control district inspects and treats the site if needed each year. Volunteer vegetation is more <br />abundant on the north-facing slope. There were no annual weeds on the undisturbed portions of the site. <br />The operator was encouraged to try to revegetate the south-facing slope soon, since it may require more time <br />to establish self-sustaining vegetation. <br />Sediment Control: <br />There is no evidence of uncontrolled erosion, any sediment would report to the pit floor. <br />Signs and Markers: <br />There was an ID sign posted on the entrance gate (at the SW corner of the site), and the permit boundary is <br />Page 2 of 4