A Colorado company linked to the Discovery Channel’s popular reality television show “Gold Rush” is facing scrutiny by state regulators for allegedly mining without a permit at a gravel pit near Fairplay along headwaters of the South Platte River.

Colorado Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety records also show High Speed Mining razed 2.4 acres of forest adjacent to an eight-acre pit, which is a focus for upcoming “Gold Rush” episodes.

A state official inspected the mining site — two miles northwest of Fairplay along the Middle Fork of the South Platte — on Dec. 5 in response to a Dec. 1 complaint filed by an Iowa-based critic of “Gold Rush”.

The inspector documented heavy machinery, cleared trees, a heap of scraped-off soil above the river and several “settling ponds” beyond site boundaries. A Dec. 21 letter from division director Ginny Brannon warns High Speed that state mining commissioners — if they decide a violation has occurred — may issue a cease-and-desist order and assess penalties of $1,000 to $5,000 per day for violations.

Colorado mining regulators oversee permits and collect bond money that they hold to ensure re-contouring, re-seeding and other restoration of land hurt by mining around the state. In this case, state officials collected $21,110 — money they say is sufficient to restore the pit.

That does not cover damage to the forest.

High Speed’s mining plan “clearly states the affected lands would be limited to areas which were historically disturbed and free of vegetation (no timber to be removed),” according to the state’s inspection report. Mining operators cut down trees on the 2.4 acres beyond the Katuska Pit, the report said. “The operator has affected 2.4 acres outside of the approved permit boundary. … Operators who mine substantial acreage beyond the permit boundary may be found to be operating without a permit.”

Colorado officials in 1991 issued a permit allowing gravel and, secondarily, gold mining in the area — one of 1,282 sites statewide where regulators permit extraction of construction materials. The Katuska Pit more recently has been designated for residential housing development, which means full restoration to native grassland and forest conditions likely would not be required.

The land is leased to High Speed. A previous holder of the permit, Boyd Astemborski, said he mined gold at the pit, then was aced out of the operation a few years ago before the work connected with “Gold Rush” began.

“They went outside the boundaries as far as I know,” Astemborski said. “It think they’re trying to do a good job. They’re not trying to trash it. … They’re a good group of guys. There is gold there.”

Colorado mining staffers are recommending that mining commissioners convert the permit to cover the 2.4 acres that were razed. The state mining division “wants the 2.4 acres under the permit so it can obtain financial assurance for that,” agency spokesman Todd Hartman said.

“If the operator completes the corrective action and pays the penalties ​as required​ by the Mine Land Reclamation Board, thereby continuing to operate, DRMS would convert the permit and require that financial assurance,” Hartman said.

Regarding the Discovery Channel, Colorado’s mining division “doesn’t take a position on whether or not an operator works with a production company to film and televise activities at a location,” he said. The state focus “is on the operation itself, and the need to comply with … regulations for mining and reclamation.”

Discovery Channel officials declined to comment. High Speed officials could not be reached to speak on the record.

A complaint filed by Robin Rindsig of Iowa, 62, who said he is retired after work in construction and is motivated by dislike of the “Gold Rush” show, triggered the state inspection. Rindsig said the show appears “scripted,” that his father and grandfather ran mining operations, and that he is trying to keep “Gold Rush” honest.

“They make it look real. They fool a lot of people. … I would love to see them taken off the air,” he said.

“The mining reclamation board ought to fine them $5,000 a day. It would make a good example … It would make people aware that the laws and regulations are there for a reason and you don’t just go willy-nilly doing what you want. You get caught. You pay the price….

“If they operate according to the permit, that is great. I intend to get out there, this summer, if they continue working, and get some aerial photos.”