2015-11-17_INSPECTION - C1981014

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November 11, 2015 C-1981-014/Southfield Mine RDZ is not maintaining the road. Regarding the roads that are within the Southfield Mine Permit Boundary (and are relevant to SL -03): • The road to the RDA is passable, and no significant erosion is present. • The road to the SAE at the former Newlin Creek Topsoil Stockpile was passable, and no erosion or other problems were seen with the road or roadside ditch. • The road at the northwest corner of the RDA (heretofore named the Cribbs -Jackson spur) is stable, and no problems were seen. • The road to Substation 92 has been reclaimed, and no erosion was seen. RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: Near the truck tunnel, the silt fence is in good shape and the wattles have been maintained. Near Pond 4, the slump, which was identified in the June inspection, has been repaired by EFCI. The hole has been filled and straw mats have been placed on the slump as well as the access area. The area around the Corley Mine Well (a Phase I area as well as Phases II and III) exhibited no erosion, bare spots, or other problems. Please see additional discussion in the Revegetation section. REVEGETATION — Rule 4.15 Vegetative Cover; Timing: Janet Binns, the DRMS vegetation expert for the review of SL -03, observed the status of the vegetation at several reclamation areas and noted the following. • On the Corley side of the facilities/portal area there is a healthy stand of little bluestem, blue grama, four - wing salt brush, and wheatgrass species. • The Magpie Creek Diversion is well vegetated. Volunteer ponderosa pine trees are becoming established in the drainage. • On the Vento side of the facilities/portal area the vegetation looked very healthy, and there is a diverse representation of species. Quite a few more shrubs and trees were noted on the Vento property versus the Corley property. • Within the Newlin Creek topsoil stockpile footprint, the vegetation exhibits good cover, biomass and vigor. This reclaimed area is visually dominated by wheatgrasses (crested, western, slender, and others), and other species are present: fringed sagebrush, green needle grass, smooth brome, and horehound. There is an increase in curly cup gumweed at the southern portion of this area. Below the gumweed, perennial grasses and forbs are healthy and well established. This gumweed is not considered a weed infestation, nor is it listed on the Colorado noxious weed list. Cholla cactus are starting to establish in this area. • The vegetation at the reclaimed Monarch Fan slope was looking very good. Since the end of the drought, the grasses have filled in well with no sign of eroding between the bunch grasses. • Within the area around the Corley Mine well, the pasture vegetation is a healthy mix of blue grama, crested wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, sand drop seed, fringed sagebrush. There is some curly cup gumweed around the pump house, as well as a small plantain. The pasture has recovered well, making it difficult to pick out the previously disturbed road. A portion of the access road that ran along the south Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 Page 4 of 36