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PERMIT #: M -1984 -094 <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: MAC <br />INSPECTION DATE: July 27, 2012 <br />Backfilling and Grading: <br />The Division assessed the highwall near the southern permit boundary. The highwall is approximately 30 feet <br />high and is near vertical. The Operator has reached the limit of what can be mined in this area. The toe of the <br />topsoil stockpile sits at the top edge of the highwall. The highwall appeared to be stable and did not show any <br />signs of failure. The highwall in this area will need to be backfilled to 3H:1 V upon final reclamation; this will <br />be reflected in the financial warranty calculation. <br />Explosives: <br />The Division observed several explosive storage magazines on the north side of the pit which is used to store <br />process water; the magazines were locked and secure. The Operator informed the Division that the explosives <br />are not being used as part of the mining operation, but are only stored at the site. The Division has not approved <br />the use or storage of explosives at the Gloria Z Mine. It is unlawful for anyone to store explosives without a <br />valid permit from the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety. The storage of explosives has been cited as a <br />problem and will require corrective action from the Operator. Please see the first page of this report for <br />additional information. <br />Financial Warranty: <br />The Division conducted a prior inspection on September 22, 2010. Following that inspection, the Division <br />determined the financial warranty amount of $33,114 was not sufficient to complete reclamation at the site. The <br />Division sent the Operator a Notice of Financial Warranty Increase on January 5, 2011. The letter informed the <br />Operator that the financial warranty was to be increased from $33,114.00 to $209,000.00; the increased <br />financial warranty was to be submitted within 60 days of the mailing date of the letter. To date the Division has <br />not received the increased financial warranty. A review of the permit file found that the Notice of Financial <br />Warranty Increase was returned to the Division as unclaimed on January 24, 2011. <br />Based on the observations made during the inspection, the Division has determined the financial warranty <br />calculation performed in 2011 is no longer valid. The Operator has removed a number of structures since the <br />last inspection, which will require the Division to recalculate the financial warranty. Notice of any increase to <br />the financial warranty will be sent under separate cover. <br />Hydrologic Balance: <br />The Division observed an area of exposed groundwater located along the southern permit boundary, <br />immediately north of the topsoil stockpile. The area of exposed groundwater was estimated to cover <br />approximately 75 square feet. The estimate was based on visual observations; the inspector did not descend to <br />the bottom of the pit as the pit walls were too steep to traverse. The depth of the area with exposed groundwater <br />could not be determined during the inspection. <br />The approved Mining Plan for this operation clearly states that groundwater will not be exposed. In addition, <br />the Division has implemented a new groundwater policy which specifies four different approaches to address <br />the liability associated with exposing groundwater. A letter outlining the new policy was mailed to all Permit <br />holders on April 30, 2010. Operators with exposed groundwater on their site were to notify the Division as to <br />how they would address the exposed groundwater. The Division did not receive a response from Sandborn Sand <br />and Gravel with regard to exposed groundwater at the site. Therefore, the Gloria Z Mine is not authorized to <br />exposed groundwater for any length of time. The exposed groundwater will be cited as a problem and will <br />require immediate action on the part of the Operator. Please see the first page of this report for additional <br />information. <br />Page 3 of 8 <br />