Laserfiche WebLink
OBSERVATIONS <br />PERMIT #: M- 2003 -019 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: JLE <br />INSPECTION DATE: August 31, 2011 <br />This was a normal monitoring inspection of the Re -open Gravel Pit #18 Pipe Spring Ranch, LLC site, DRMS File <br />No. M- 2003 -019. This site is located 18 miles north and 3.5 miles west of the town of Pritchett, Colorado in <br />Baca County. I, Jared Ebert of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) conducted <br />the inspection. Mr. Jeans Adams of Baca County accompanied me on the inspection. <br />The Division mapped the location of the marked permit boundary and measured the area of affected land with <br />a Trimble GeoXT GPS unit. A map of the Division's findings is enclosed with this report. The delineated <br />boundary is marked with metal posts and piles of soil. These markers delineate an area of 9.85 acres. The <br />shape, size and orientation of the marked boundary does not coincide with the information provided in the <br />application. The approved permit acreage for the site is 9.4 acres. The legal description provided in Exhibit A <br />in the application provides the dimensions and orientation of the site. However, the acreage outlined in this <br />Exhibit does not equal 9.4 acres. The current approved mining and reclamation plan map depicts a 9.4 acre <br />permit area consisting of a 640 foot by 640 foot polygon. Given these maps appear to be consistent with the <br />approved permit acreage; the Division will assume these maps depict the correct area. Using these <br />dimensions, the Division estimated and portrayed the location of the approved permit boundary on the <br />enclosed inspection report map. <br />Based on this information, it appears the Operator has affected approximately 1.13 acres outside of the <br />approved permit boundary. This issue is cited as a possible violation at the beginning of the inspection report <br />and will require an enforcement hearing in front of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. A separate <br />letter regarding the date and time of the hearing will be provided to the Operator via certified mail. <br />The Operator has created an open pit basin by pushing the material from the perimeter of the excavation into <br />the center of the excavation. By doing this, the mine slopes are maintained at a 3:1 horizontal to vertical ratio <br />or flatter. Topsoil has been stripped in advance of the mining operation and is stockpiled along the perimeter <br />of the pit basin. The land affected outside of the approved boundary is primarily disturbed as a result of <br />topsoil stripping and stockpiling activities. <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />