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PERMIT #: M-2007-057 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: RCO <br />INSPECTION DATE: May 20, 2011 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a partial inspection of a Construction Materials 110c permits performed by the Division in response to a <br />request by Danny Rogers, Mineral County Road and Bridge Supervisor. Mr. Rogers was present throughout the <br />inspection, but the operator was not present. The reason for the joint inspection was to discuss the county's removal of <br />some of the material along the toe of the slope for visibility and safety reasons, where the eastern end of the site is at <br />"Airport Corner," a 90 degree bend in the highway. The county desires to remove more material for safety reasons, <br />continuing westward along the toe of the slope. <br />The approved mining plan is for the phased excavation of material, with the phases defined as a series of "mining cells" <br />along the lower half of the permitted hill slope. There is no mining cell at the extreme eastern end of the permitted <br />area, where the county has removed the material. The county has not disturbed any mining cell and the operator has <br />not commenced any permitted mining activity to-date. The next step of material removal that the county wishes to <br />undertake will be within cell #7 (the easternmost cell). <br />The county has removed a small "wedge" of material along the lower edge of the slope, affecting a strip of land about 20 <br />feet wide. This has produced 7-foot high cut wall, and a wider flat area adjacent to the highway at this important <br />corner, increasing the visibility distance and safety at this location. Much of the resultant highwall, especially at the <br />eastern end of past excavation, is in a sedimentary outcrop that may be sufficiently stable to not require slope <br />reduction. The county should monitor this feature and manage any raveling rock that encroaches into the right-of-way. <br />In the westerly portion of the excavated area, the outcrop dips to below the grade of the right-of-way, and the slope <br />becomes composed of erodible, unconsolidated material. It is in this type of material that the county must grade the <br />cut wall, to reduce the slope to a stable surface gradient. It was suggested that stabilizing the existing disturbance <br />should conform to the approved reclamation plan details under this permit. <br />The observed area of material excavation is about 275 feet in length, starting at the eastern point of the ridge. It is <br />viewed to be a necessary safety activity, which is not strictly considered "mining" and does not need to be constrained <br />within an approved "mining cell." The county will ensure that it is monitored and managed properly, and stated that it <br />will not excavate farther up the hill in that location. <br />Any additional excavation that extends to the west along the toe of the slope, however, will be in mining cell #7, and will <br />require reclamation grading to be performed. Slope reduction grading will consist of pulling down overlying <br />unconsolidated material with an excavator, and performing interim stabilization seeding or final reclamation seeding <br />according to the approved plan. Since the Division considers any activity within an approved mining cell to be the <br />operator's responsibility under this permit, the operator should closely monitor the county's activities to ensure they <br />conform to the approved plan, and that the site is not degraded. <br />The excavated materials from this site are fairly clayey, and the county had hauled them to nearby Banta Gravel Pit (M- <br />1984-097, operated by Mineral County) to improve the binder of road material. This is acceptable, and future excavated <br />materials, from within the mining cells, may be utilized similarly. All such activities must be included in annual reports. <br />Signs and Markers: <br />The operator should ensure that the boundaries of the approved mining cells are marked, so that the county or other <br />party operating there in the future recognizes the mining limits. Offsite damage (outside the permitted area boundary) <br />could be a possible violation, and over-excavation (simply beyond the mining cell limits) could complicate reclamation <br />and require a bond increase. <br />Page 2 of 4