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PERMIT #: M-1999-005 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: JLE <br />IN SPECTION DATE: March 21, 2011 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection of the North River Pit; M-1999-005 operated by All Rite Paving and <br />Redi-Mix, Inc. This site is located 1.5 miles northeast of La Junta, Colorado in Otero County. I, Jared Ebert of <br />the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety conducted the inspection. Mr. Herb Pearson of All <br />Rite Paving and Redi-Mix, Inc. accompanied me on the inspection. <br />This is a 275.45 acre 112c mining operation for sand and gravel. The site is split into two mining areas, the <br />north mining area located north of the Arkansas River, and the south borrow area located south of the river. <br />The north mining area is where the primary activity is occurring at the site. Two open water pit excavation are <br />located in the southeast corner of the site. A 2009 aerial photograph of the site is enclosed with this report <br />highlighted with the Division observations. Overall, the site disturbance is very similar to what is shown in the <br />aerial photograph. The northern excavation is approximately 7 acres in size. The excavation appears to be <br />advancing to the west and the Operator is backfilling excess material along the eastern shore. Topsoil is <br />stockpiled along the north shore of this pit excavation. A dewatering pump float station is located at the <br />southwest corner of the northern pit excavation. The Operator is only approved to dewater a limited amount <br />to allow the dragline access to the pit excavation; however, the Operator is not approved to dry mine. Mr. <br />Pearson indicated they may change their mining method to dry mine the site in the future. Prior to fully <br />dewatering the site in preparation to dry mine, All Rite Paving and Redi-Mix will need to submit and obtain <br />approval from the Division a Technical Revision to update the mining method. <br />The southern pond is approximately 2.6 acres in size. A small berm separates the north pond excavation from <br />the south pond excavation. The side slopes of this pond were fairly steep ranging from a 2.5:1 horizontal to <br />vertical ratio to a 2:1. These slopes will need to be regarded to the approved 3:1 ratio five feet above and ten <br />feet below the high waterline. Crushers, conveyors and screening equipment are located west of the pit <br />excavations. Several stockpiles of material were located around the processing equipment. The Operator <br />committed to maintaining a 200 foot setback from the Arkansas River as a riparian corridor. The processing <br />area is nearing the setback limit, and the Operator will need to exercise caution as mining and processing <br />activities advance. <br />The original phase 1 mining area in the southeast portion of the north mining area has not been affected by <br />the operation. A small road traverses the southern boundary of the mining phase. A small area devoid of <br />vegetation where the water table appears to rise frequently is located west of the processing area. It does not <br />appear land has been affected north of the two pit excavations. <br />The south borrow area can only be accessed from the other side of the river. At the time the inspection, the <br />access road was blocked by a parked train. The Division will conduct a follow-up inspection in the future for <br />the south borrow area. According to Mr. Pearson, this area has not been utilized for a long time. <br />The Operator is reminded they are required to maintain a 200 foot setback from the seepage ditch located in <br />the northeast portion of the site. The current financial warranty is set at $175,334. Prior to the inspection, <br />Mrs. Denise Gonzales of All Rite Paving and Redi-Mix stated over the phone the Operator is in the processes of <br />obtaining a permanent augmentation plan for the exposed ground water at the site. <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />