2014-06-30_INSPECTION - C1981038

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June 10, 2014 C- 1981 - 038 /Bowie No. 1 Mine MLT • Flow in the North Fork of the Gunnison River has dropped somewhat, and the proportion of suspended solids has diminished (Photo 1). East Roatcap Creek was still flowing beneath the West Mine ponds. The flow in Stevens Creek, at the toe of the Timber Storage Area, had reduced to a trickle. • The Small Area Exemption on the railroad embankment at the northern end of the Loadout is well- vegetated, but the cover consists almost entirely of Cheatgrass and Jointed goat grass (Photo 2). • Ditches and culverts at the East Mine (as shown on Permit Map 6A -5D) appeared to be in good condition. Where the western roadside ditch leaves the permit boundary, at Curve 2, hay bales and silt fence were in good repair (Photo 3). • During the May 20, 2014 OSM oversight inspection, we noted an area of the rail corridor where irrigation water was overflowing across the surface of the permit area. The location was checked on June 11, and found to be dry - the irrigation system had been maintained to prevent any overflow from occurring. RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: • At the West Mine, several cow -calf pairs were grazing at the upper margin of the reclaimed slope, in accordance with the approved post- mining land use (Photo 4). The reclaimed slopes at the East Mine, West Mine, and Timber Storage Area all appeared to be stable. REVEGETATION — Rule 4.15 Vegetative Cover; Timing: Yellow sweet clover dominated much of the reclaimed areas (Photos 5 and 6), and was prevalent throughout the valley of the North Fork. Blue flax was plentiful at various locations (Photo 7). • Vegetation along the water / power line corridor north of the East Mine was spectacular, and included a variety of desirable species with virtually no weeds present (Photo 8). Cicer milkvetch and alfalfa were thriving amongst the Yellow sweet clover at the reclaimed East Mine. SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: The Paonia Loadout continues to be used to store miscellaneous equipment, generally from the Bowie No. 2 Mine (Photo 9). • Railroad ties, rails, and associated hardware are stockpiled at various places on the site (Photo 10). The ballast on the rail corridor was still in place and had not been salvaged. SIGNS AND MARKERS — Rule 4.02: • Mine ID signs were posted at the road entrances to the West Mine, the East Mine, the SH 133 entrances to the Loadout, the Well Field (Photo 11), and the Timber Storage Area. • I was unable to locate signs and permit boundary markers along the southern side of the Loadout, e.g. the rail spur located across the river, and the areas southwest of the Black Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 12 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 5 Page 3 of 11