2012-06-18_INSPECTION - M1982131

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PERMIT #: M -1982 -131 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: PSH INSPECTION DATE: June 6, 2012 Background, Mining and Reclamation Plans: On May 21, 2012 while inspecting the Island Grove site permitted by the City of Greeley, the Division noticed the adjacent Bucklen Pit being backfilled with imported materials including branches, tires, appliances and construction debris. This inspection was scheduled to further investigate the backfill operation and determine if the site is in possible violation of the Mineral Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for the Extraction of Construction Materials. In 1993, the Division approved an amendment to expand the site by approximately 54 acres. The amendment was divided into two areas — Area A and Area B. Area A is the mining area and is located along the Cache La Poudre River east of 21st Avenue and west of the City of Greeley Island Grove Park. The area is approximately 30 acres. Area B is used for material stockpiling as a temporary processing plant area and for equipment storage. The area is approximately 24 acres. The site was active during the inspection. The Area A site was being dewatered to accommodate mining. A processing plant and stockpiles were observed in the northwest section of Area A. The mining operation will continue to remove material surrounding the plant site, until the plant will be required to move to Area B. The approved reclamation plan states the Operator will reclaim Area A as an unlined pond and use the pond as a private recreational facility. The plans states reclamation will be done using the stripped and stockpiled on -site materials. Overburden will be used for backfilling and resloping the lake perimeter. The lake shoreline will be excavated at 3H:1V slopes. The approved plan does not mention the importation or backfilling of the site with off-site material. During the inspection, the Division observed the backfill operation occurring in the southeast corner of Area A (future lake). Slopes along the south side and southwest corner of the pit were steeper than the approved pit slopes. The backfill material consisted of the following materials: trees, branches, landscape waste, trash, metal and rubber debris, concrete and asphalt rubble, and dirt. The Operator stated the lake was being backfilled to reduce the final augmentation requirement for the future exposed groundwater and to provide a future access point for the Island Grove Park. Currently, the Island Grove pond is difficult to access and the landowners intend to donate the backfilled area to the City of Greeley. Two trucks were observed during the inspection dumping concrete and asphalt debris and landscape waste. The imported material was dumped over the side of the backfill area and no compaction effort was observed. The backfill area was measured to be approximately 2.25 acres. The excavation is approximately 35 to 40 feet deep, and has been backfilled in two layers. The bottom layer appeared to be 12 to 15 feet deep and covered the entire bottom of the area. The upper layer was approximately 15 to 20 feet deep and covered the eastern half of the area. The Division estimates approximately 86,700 cubic yards of material have been placed at the time of the inspection. The Operator stated the City of Greeley was aware of the backfill operation and was planning to cover the area with four feet of dirt to complete backfilling to the previous and surrounding land elevation. The approved mining plan for the site states Area A will be mined at a 3H:1V slope. The south side and southwest corner of the property have been mined at a slope greater than the approved the mining plan. The slopes were estimated at 1H:1V. Portions of the slopes had been backfilled by the Operator. The southeast corner of the reduced lake shoreline was complete and appeared to have a 3H:1V or less slope. Additional areas along the south side were starting to be backfilled. The east slope of the lake has been reclaimed by the Page 2 of 6