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OBSERVATIONS <br />PERMIT #: M -1980 -149 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: PSH <br />INSPECTION DATE: March 9, 2012 <br />Weld County submitted a request for a reduction in the permitted acreage for the Hokestra Gravel Pit, Permit <br /># M- 1980 -149 on January 20, 2012. The acreage reduction (AR -05) was deemed complete by the Division on <br />January 28, 2012 with the submittal of land ownership information and an updated map indicating the current <br />permit boundary for the site. <br />Per Rule 4.17.2(2), the Division shall inspect the site within 60 days of receiving a complete acreage reduction <br />request to determine if the Permittee has complied with all applicable requirements of the reclamation plan. <br />The site was inspected by Peter Hays with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) to <br />evaluate the acreage reduction request. David Bauer with Weld County was notified of the inspection, but <br />was unable to accompany the Division on the inspection. <br />The acreage reduction request states Weld County wishes to revise and reduce the permitted area to remove <br />40.4 acres of unmined area. According to the request, the area is currently grassed pasture and planned for a <br />future County building and emergency services radio tower. The communications tower project is a response <br />to Office of Emergency Management needs and planned for construction in 2012. <br />The acreage release area consisted of native grasses and annual weeds. The native vegetation was sparce in <br />the southern half of the area due to the presence of prairie dog. The release area appeared to have been <br />undisturbed by the mining activity at the site and was consistent with the surrounding rangeland in the area. <br />The release area was delineated by orange painted t -posts at the corners. <br />The Division will recommend approval of the acreage release request (AR -05) based on the observations <br />from this inspection. Notice of the acreage release request approval will be mailed to Weld County under <br />separate cover. <br />Mine Plan: <br />The Hokestra Gravel Pit is currently permitted for 172 acres, which will be reduced to 131.6 acres following <br />approval of AR -05. The approved post -mine land use for the site is developed water resource. Mining and <br />reclamation is scheduled to occur in 3 remaining phases. <br />Mining in Phase II appears to be complete. According to the 2011 SWSP application, the clay liner for the <br />phase has not been constructed. This appears to be inaccurate based on the inspection observations. The <br />Phase II slopes are graded to 3H:1V and topsoil is being placed above the anticipated water line, which <br />indicates construction of the clay liner is complete. A dewatering pump was observed, but was not running at <br />the time of the inspection. <br />The northern sections of Phases IV and III have been stripped of topsoil and overburden to expose the gravel <br />resource. The slurry walls required in Phases IV and III do not appear to have been installed. Topsoil is <br />stockpile along the north, west and east sides of Phase IV and along the north side and in the southwest <br />corner of Phase III. A large stockpile of sand is located in the southern portion of Phase IV and the southern <br />portion of Phase III is used for material stockpiles. The required 150 foot offset from the St. Vrain River and <br />the 50 foot offset from Last Chance Ditch were verified during the inspection. No evidence of the installation <br />of the required french drain was observed during the inspection. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />