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PERMIT #: M- 1997 -007 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: JLE <br />INSPECTION DATE: July 15, 2011 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was an acreage reduction inspection (AR02) of the Bijou Clay Pit; DRMS File No. M- 1997 -007, operated by <br />Acme Brick Company. This site is located approximately 7.5 miles east of Kiowa, Colorado in Elbert County. I, <br />Jared Ebert of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety conducted the inspection. Mr. Robert <br />Tibbetts and Mr. John Cona of Acme Brick Company accompanied me on the inspection. <br />Acme Brick Company requested a release of 8.31 acres on the western side of the permit area on June 21, <br />2011 (AR02). The applicant made a similar request a few months prior in a different acreage reduction <br />request (AR01). The Division conducted an inspection in regards to that acreage reduction request on April <br />26, 2011. During that inspection, it was found that the permit boundary markers were not placed in the <br />correct location. The Operator was required to conduct a survey and correctly mark the permit boundary. <br />That acreage reduction (AR01) was denied because it appeared land has been affected within the release area. <br />After the April 2011 inspection, The Operator indicated to the Division the boundary issue had been corrected <br />and requested another acreage reduction (AR02). This inspection was conducted to check the boundary <br />markers and determine if the requested for release has been affected by the mining operation. <br />The boundary markers in question were mapped using a Trimble GeoXT GPS unit. A map of the Division's <br />findings is enclosed with this report. Based on these measurements, it appears the northeast and southeast <br />corner markers are correctly placed. Assuming this is the case, the western corner markers near the access <br />road appear to be placed too far to the north distorting the marked permit boundary. The marked boundary <br />will need to be corrected. This issue is cited as a problem at the beginning of this report and will require the <br />operator to take corrective action. <br />Based on the Division's observations, and the orientation of the permit boundary, it appears the 8.31 acre <br />release request area has not been affected by the mining operation. Given this, the Division will approve the <br />release request. <br />During the April 26, 2011 inspection the Division noted a large erosion feature along the northeast boundary <br />where the graded area drains stormwater. The Operator has repaired this area and placed large boulders and <br />rocks near the drainage point as rip -rap. Also, several straw waddles have been installed within the northern <br />basin for erosion control. The Operator will need to monitor these areas on a continual basis and conduct <br />maintenance as need to prevent further erosion. <br />A small area, less than a quarter of an acre in size has been affected outside of the northern and northeast <br />boundary. It appears this area was disturbed while grading the northern basin. These areas have been graded <br />to match the surrounding land and was seeded along with the other portions of the affected land in the <br />northeast basin according to Mr. Tibbetts. This area will need to be monitored and reclaimed in accordance <br />with the approved reclamation plan. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />