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The Team reviewed the following permit documents in order to gain an understanding of
<br />the typical bore pad configuration, the number and location of borehole pads, borehole
<br />sealing practices, and to plan the inspection: DRMS inspection reports (December,
<br />2014; January, 2014; February, 2015; and March, 2015); Illustration #52 (Completion of
<br />Typical Degas Borehole); Section IV Operations Plan; Section V Reclamation Plan;
<br />comprehensive drill hole Abandonment Report (4117/2015); 2014 Annual Reclamation
<br />Report; and Map 147, Small Area Exemption (SAE) Location Map.
<br />A total of 22 active and reclaimed GVBs, as well as one tailgate monitoring hole, were
<br />evaluated as part of this inspection. A chronological summary of the Team's
<br />observations is included in the table below.
<br />GVB #
<br />Status
<br />Notes
<br />LW 14 -4
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed approx. 1998, casing at grade, sealed, monument, good
<br />reveg including sagebrush, stable. Minor cheatgrass Bromus tectorum .
<br />LW 10 -3
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed approx. 1998, casing at grade, sealed, monument, surface
<br />stable. Some cheatgrass on pad but less than surrounding undisturbed
<br />area. Considering the dominance and abundance of cheatgrass in
<br />undisturbed areas, Mr. Wanstedt's various noxious weed competition
<br />methods (varying seed mixes) in disturbed areas are showing positive
<br />signs.
<br />LW 10 -2
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed approx. 1998, casing 3" above grade, sealed, monument,
<br />some cheatgrass and sagebrush but less than off -pad. Perimeter berm
<br />with rock check dam, constructed by Western Fuels, which BLM no
<br />longer favors. Redisturbing to eliminate likely not wise. Surface
<br />rough nin now used as primary sediment control measure.
<br />LW 10 -1
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed approx. 1998, casing at grade„ sealed, monument, similar
<br />perimeter berm in place, stable surface. Successful elimination of black
<br />henbane here, according to Mr. Wanstedt. Observed prick! y pear cacti.
<br />LW 11 -1
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Late 90s reclamation, sealed, monument. Slightly rockier, poorer topsoil
<br />than previous four pads (poorer topsoil is associated with "better'
<br />reclamation 1 less cheatgrass at this mine). Casing approx. 12" above
<br />grade, good woody stem establishment, stable surface. Similar perimeter
<br />berm.
<br />LW 1 -8
<br />Temporarily sealed
<br />Green flame arrester intact, but fencing was removed and pad is mostly
<br />reclaimed. This was left as a bleeder in the event the mine flooded and a
<br />pressure release was necessary. The mine is now apparently flooded
<br />here. Mr. Wanstedt opened the valve, no mine gas escaped. Stable
<br />surface featuring Siberian wheatgrass and less cheatgrass than
<br />surrounding area, though lacking associated sagebrush and juniper.
<br />LWB 7 -2
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed approx. 2006, casing 12" above grade, monument needs to
<br />be anchored, stable surface with excellent sage establishment.
<br />LWB 7 -1
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Tailgate monitoring hole for mine gas. Casing 2" above grade, extensive
<br />cheatgrass in undisturbed surrounding area, drill pad primarily contained
<br />crested (Siberian) wheatgrass and basin wild rye which can outcompete
<br />cheatgrass. Stable surface, elk scat present,
<br />LWB 11 -1
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed in 2011, vegetation is coming along, surface is stable.
<br />LWB 10 -1
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed in 2011, casing 8" above grade, black geotextile fence placed
<br />in natural drainage to function as check dam, elk scat present. Surface is
<br />stable, grasses well established, sage establishing.
<br />LWB 10 -2
<br />Reclaimed
<br />Reclaimed in 2014. Casing 4" above grade, missing monument, and
<br />cement seeped out I around casing. Needs to be topped off with Portland
<br />...............
<br />2 1 P a g e
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