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OBSERVATIONS <br />This inspection was conducted by Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety inspectors, <br />Dustin Czapla and Steve Shuey, in order to document damage caused by the Colorado River at <br />the site during the 2011 spring runoff event, and to discuss the Operator's plans for remediation <br />of the damage. Jason Burkey, Brent Kerr, Jeff Boone (Oldcastle SW Group, Inc. dba United <br />Companies of Mesa County) and Peter Kearl (O'Connor Design Group, Inc.), representing the <br />Operator, were present during this inspection. Photographs are included at the end of this report <br />in order to illustrate some of the conditions observed during this inspection. <br />The site is part of the greater United Companies of Mesa County Rifle gravel pit complex, and is <br />located approximately 2 miles east of Rifle and accessed from Hwy. 6, through the Dick Casey <br />(M -1978 -349) and Chambers Pit (M- 1979 -205) sites. <br />The Division currently holds a Financial Warranty in the amount of $14,360.00. <br />PERMIT #: M -1979 -075 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: DMC <br />INSPECTION DATE: January 6, 2012 <br />The site has been mined out and is used only for stockpiling and materials storage for the <br />adjacent Glen Pit and Dick Casey Pit. Reclamation of the site began in 2000. <br />Prior to the 2011 runoff event, a bank located along the south and east sides of the pit remained <br />in place. This bank was required to remain in place as part of the approved Reclamation Plan for <br />this site, which called for leaving an undisturbed buffer zone, 100 feet wide, between the pit and <br />the Colorado River. The pitside slopes along this buffer were to be mined at 3H:1 V. The east <br />side of the buffer zone formed a cutbank along the Colorado River. <br />During the 2011 runoff period, the Colorado River experienced unusually high flows. In July, <br />2011, during the high flow period, approximately 1,000 lineal feet of the buffer was eroded and <br />completely removed from the site. The Operator self - reported failure of the bank, and has begun <br />development of a remediation plan, which will require US Army Corp of Engineers approval. <br />Failure of the bank has been noted as a problem in this report. A technical revision to the permit <br />will be required in order to address reconstruction and stabilization of the bank. <br />Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Dustin Czapla at the Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining and Safety, Grand Junction Field Office, 101 South 3rd Street, Room 301, <br />Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, phone number (970) 243 -6299. <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />