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July 9, 2014 C- 1980- 007/West Elk Mine JRS <br />any instability on the reclamation, including settling, slumping and cracking. There was Canada thistle and <br />hound's tongue observed on the pad and road spur. It was unclear if these areas have been sprayed. West Elk <br />needs to spray these areas to help control these weeds. Overall the reclamation success on the reclaimed MDW <br />pad and reclaimed road spur was excellent. <br />- The section of reclaimed road from the second MDW pad to the third MDW pad was very well vegetated and <br />stable and no erosional problems were noted. The road had no signs of instability, including settling, slumping or <br />cracking. There was Canada thistle and hound's tongue present on this section of road and it did not appear that it <br />was sprayed (the spraying appeared to stop at the second pad). West Elk needs to spray these weeds to help <br />control them. Overall the reclamation success on this portion of reclaimed road was excellent. <br />- The third drill pad (MDW's 20 -23 and 20 -25) was stable and had excellent vegetative cover. The pad had good <br />drainage and there were no erosional problems noted on the pad. There were no signs of any instability on the <br />pad, including settling, slumping or cracking. There were numerous box elders on the pad (these were <br />transplanted last fall) and two large patches of wild raspberries (that have volunteered in). The pad had a lot of <br />Canada thistle that has not been sprayed. West Elk needs to get up to this pad and spray the Canada thistle before <br />it gets out of control, Overall, the reclamation success on this third MDW pad was very good. <br />- The section of reclaimed road from the third MDW pad to the fourth MDW pad was very well vegetated and <br />stable and no erosional problems were noted. The road had no signs of instability, including settling, slumping or <br />cracking. There was Canada thistle and hound's tongue present on this section of road and it did not appear that it <br />was sprayed (the spraying appeared to stop at the second pad). West Elk needs to spray these weeds to help <br />control them. Overall the reclamation success on this portion of reclaimed road was excellent. <br />- The fourth and final drill pad (MDW's 6 -21 -25.5 and 6- 21 -28) was stable and had excellent vegetative cover. <br />The pad had good drainage and there were no erosional problems noted on the pad. There were no signs of any <br />instability on the pad, including settling, slumping or cracking. During last summer's SL -05 inspection there were <br />several tension cracks noted at the upper (south) edge of the pad. These cracks have healed themselves and there <br />were no problems noted in the area where the cracks were located. The pad had some Canada thistle and hound's <br />tongue that has not been sprayed. West Elk needs to get up to this pad and spray these weeds before they get out <br />of control, Overall, the reclamation success on this third MDW pad was very good. <br />- As a side note, following this inspection The operator took a crew up the Bo Canyon and mechanically removed <br />a good portion of the weeds that were observed during this inspection. This work will really help in the overall <br />success of the reclamation and weed control for these drill pads and roads. <br />REVEGETATION — Rule 4.15 Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br />- On the inspection we passed by MDW pad 14 -06, which was included in the 24 June 2014 Partial phase III Bond <br />Release SL -06 inspection. During the inspection it was noted that there was white top on the cut slope of the road <br />and on the pad. During the 9 July 2014 inspection it did appear that the white top has been sprayed. Although the <br />Division will terminate its jurisdiction on this pad, West Elk should continue to monitor it to ensure it does not <br />spread to other areas. <br />- Although not Phase I Bond Release criteria, all of the reclaimed MDW pads, light -use roads and the Monument <br />Dam borrow area have had the topsoil and have been seeded. The areas were all very well vegetated. This is the <br />first year of growth for all of the areas (third year for the borrow area) and there is already a good stand of <br />perennial grasses and forbs. There were some annual weeds, including pennycress and tumble mustard, which is <br />expected in the first few years following reseeding. There were also several noxious weed species observed on <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 <br />Page 9 of 54 <br />