2014-07-24_INSPECTION - C1980007 (2)

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June 24, 2014 C- 1980- 007/West Elk Mine JRS diversity. Dominant grasses included bluebunch wheatgrass and slender wheatgrass. Forbs included yarrow and bluebell. There was a fair amount of snowberry starting to come in on the margins of the pad. There was some hound's tongue on the pad. There was also some tumble mustard (which is an annual weed) on the pad. The pad will need to be sprayed prior to finalizing the bond release. Overall, the vegetation on pad 14 -07 was very good. The cover was good and there was a good amount of species diversity. - The vegetation on pad 14 -06 was good. There was fairly good cover and there appeared to be good species diversity. Dominant grasses included bluebunch wheatgrass and slender wheatgrass. Forbs included yarrow and bluebell. There were no shrubs observed on the pad. There was some hound's tongue on the pad. There was also some tumble mustard (which is an annual weed) on the pad. Of greater concern on pad 14 -06 was the presence of white top on the cut -slope along the road and on both sides of the road. While the plants were still few in number, their extent was fairly wide (covering approximately 10 -15% of the pads area). The pad will need to be sprayed prior to finalizing the bond release. Overall, the vegetation on pad 14 -06 was good. The cover was good and there was a good amount of species diversity. - The vegetation on the road from pad 15 -07 to pad 14 -09 was very good. This road continues on to pad 14 -06, but the only portion of the road that was included in the SL -06 bond release application is from pad 15 -07 to pad 14 -09. There was good cover and there appeared to be good species diversity on the road. Dominant grasses included western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass and slender wheatgrass. Forbs included yarrow and bluebell. There was a fair amount of snowberry and sagebrush (yes, sagebrush) starting to come in on the road. There was some hound's tongue on the road. The road will need to be sprayed prior to finalizing the bond release. Overall, the vegetation on the road from pad 15 -07 to pad 14 -09 was very good. The cover was good and there was a good amount of species diversity. TOPSOIL — Rule 4.06 Removal 4.06.2, Substitute Materials 4.06.4(4); Storage and Protection 4.063; Redistribution 4.06.4: - Although not a Phase III Bond Release criteria, the Division still observed the topsoil the requested sites to ascertain the prospect for long -term vegetation success. For specifics on the topsoil replacement and other Phase II Bond Release criteria, please see the SL -04 bond release inspection reports, as necessary. - The Division believes that there is adequate topsoil at the main thermal event area to continue to support the perennial vegetation community. This is based on the fact that there is no erosion on any of the sites and the overall success of the vegetation on these sites (for more on the vegetation see "Reclamation Success" below). The Division believes that all of the thermal event area disturbances listed in SL -06 have adequate topsoil to ensure the long -term success of the vegetative community. - The Division believes that there is adequate topsoil at the Lone Pine facility disturbance areas to continue to support the perennial vegetation community. This is based on the fact that there is no erosion on any of the sites and the overall success of the vegetation on these sites (for more on the vegetation see "Reclamation Success" below). The Division believes that all of the Lone Pine facility area disturbances listed in SL -06 have adequate topsoil to ensure the long -term success of the vegetative community. - The Division believes that there is adequate topsoil on MDW pads 14 -06, 14 -07 and 14 -08 and the road spur from pad 15 -07 to pad 14 -09 to continue to support the perennial vegetation community. This is based on the fact that there is no erosion on any of the sites and the overall success of the vegetation on these sites (for more on the vegetation see "Reclamation Success" below). The Division believes that all of the MDW pad 1 and road disturbances listed in SL -06 have adequate topsoil to ensure the long -term success of the vegetative community. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: I I Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 5 of 30