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July 28, 2016 C-1981-022/Elk Creek Mine LDS <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 <br /> <br /> Page 3 of 7 <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> A bid had been accepted by Oxbow for the reclamation of the de-watering well in the north-west corner of <br />the COC-61357 lease area, and the ~1 mile of road back to GVB-LW-19-08. The contractor is expected to <br />mobilize equipment by mid-August. <br />DEMCO were continuing to make progress on the demolition tasks around the facilities area. At the time <br />of the inspection their efforts were concentrated on cleaning up the remaining concrete and re-bar from the silo <br />demolition. The demolition of the loadout and the break up of various concrete pads and foundations are the main <br />tasks remaining. <br /> <br />REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> Oxbow had been spraying for weeds using Crossbow mixed with a surfactant. Some areas that had been <br />sprayed were still supporting healthy looking weeds (for example: Canada thistle along the powerline road; Musk <br />thistle at the Hubbard creek fan site), and a dense stand of Canada thistle had gone to seed at the VB-1S-01 pad, <br />which had not been sprayed. <br />Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a B-list noxious weed in Colorado, which means that it is required to <br />be either eliminated, contained, or suppressed depending on the local infestation. The CSU extension office and <br />the CO Department of Agriculture have published a factsheet, which describes the plant and gives <br />recommendations as to its control. Oxbow should review weed control practices at the Elk Creek mine to ensure <br />that noxious weed infestations of reclaimed land do not delay future bond release applications. For the remainder <br />of this year, Division staff recommend that further application of herbicides be delayed until the fall re-growth <br />season. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/CanadaThistleFactsheet.pdf <br />In the riparian zone near the Hubbard Creek fan site, there appeared to be some Tamarisk, or Salt Cedar <br />(Tamarix spp.). This will be the subject of a follow-up inspection. <br /> <br />SLIDES and DAMAGE - Rule 4.12: <br /> The damaged road to the de-watering well pad had not been repaired but is going to be reclaimed, as <br />described above. <br /> <br />SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: <br /> The reclaimed gob-vent borehole pad off the powerline road was inspected (VB-1S-01). The location of <br />the hole was marked with a t-post and the pad showed no signs of erosion or instability. There was a large, dense <br />stand of Canada thistle, however, which is likely to require a concerted effort over several years to treat. <br /> <br />DOCUMENTS RECEIVED <br />N/A <br /> <br />OTHER (SPECIFY) <br />N/A <br /> <br />