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OBSERVATIONS <br />PERMIT #: M- 1980 -135 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br />INSPECTION DATE: May 30, 2012 <br />The inspection was conducted by Michael Cunningham of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(Division). Joel Chisum of Pinneo Feedlot was also present for the inspection. The Headley site is located <br />approximately 5 miles northeast of Brush, Colorado. The site is permitted for 59.3 acres and the post- mining <br />land use is agriculture. <br />The Headley site is in final reclamation and has not been mined since 2004. The purpose of this inspection was <br />to assess the reclamation work that has been done to date. The Headley site is comprised of four gravel pits <br />which are in various stage of reclamation: <br />1) Gravel Pit No. 1- The highwalls have been graded to 3H:1V or flatter and the topsoil has been replaced. The <br />Operator has done an exceptional job in grading this pit to blend in with the surrounding topography. The <br />Operator plans on seeding this area in the fall with a cover crop; the final seed mix will be inter - seeded into <br />the cover crop in the spring. <br />2) Gravel Pit No. 2 - This gravel pit is located to the south of Gravel Pit No. 1. The pit contains exposed <br />groundwater. The pit walls are approximately 24 feet in height and range from 1H:1V to 4H:1V. Rule 3.1.5(7) <br />requires pit slopes to be no steeper than 2H:1V, except from 5 feet above to 10 feet below the expected water <br />line where slopes shall be no steeper than 3H:1V. The Operator has begun backfill the pit by reducing the <br />highwalls around the perimeter of the pit. Groundwater will no longer be exposed when reclamation is <br />complete. Backfilling is currently taking place at the north end of the pit. <br />3) Gravel Pit No. 3 - This gravel pit is being used as an infiltration pond to augment wells used by Pinneo <br />Feedlot, LLC. The shoreline is vegetated and the slopes are approximately 4H:1V. Reclamation of this portion <br />of the mine is complete and is eligible for release. <br />4) Gravel Pit No. 4 - This pit was inspected on March 30, 2011. Based on observations made during the <br />inspection, the Division determined that Gravel Pit No. 4 has been reclaimed. On May 4, 2011, the Division of <br />Water Resources notified the Division that the replacement of evaporative depletions at the Headley site is <br />not required. A substitute water supply plan or augmentation plan will not need to be filed as long as no other <br />depletions occur at the site. Reclamation of this portion of the mine is complete and is eligible for release. <br />The Operator may request an acreage reduction to release the portions of the mine which have been fully <br />reclaimed. The written notice requesting release shall be sent by Certified Mail and shall be separate from <br />other correspondence to the Division. The notice shall contain the names, addresses and phone numbers of all <br />owners of record to the affected land. The notice must also contain a signed statement from the Operator that <br />all applicable portions of the Reclamation Plan have been satisfied in accordance with the Rules and all <br />applicable requirements under the Act. In addition, the Operator must provide the Division with a map which <br />depicts the area to be released and specifies the total acreage which has been requested for release. <br />Following the inspection conducted on August 25, 2010, the Division cited a problem for failure to reclaim the <br />site within five years pursuant to Rule 3.1.3. Reclamation of this site was to be completed by May 31, 2012. <br />The Operator has requested the corrective action deadline be extended by another year. Based on the <br />observations made during this inspection, the Operator is making significant progress in reclaiming the site. <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />