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August 1, 2017 C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal Mine JHB <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 <br /> Page 2 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection <br />N - Availability of Records <br />N - Backfill & Grading <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Explosives <br />R - Fish & Wildlife <br />N - Hydrologic Balance <br />R - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Other <br />N - Processing Waste <br /> <br />N - Roads <br />R - Reclamation Success <br />R - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />R - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Support Facilities On-site <br />N - Signs and Markers <br />N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />N - Topsoil <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS <br /> <br />This was a partial inspection conducted by Janet Binns of CDRMS. The focus of this inspection was to observe <br />vegetation sampling efforts in anticiapation of future bond release applications. Mr. Kurt Blunt accompanied the <br />inspection. <br /> <br />The weather was clear, dry and warm. The area has received localized heavy rainshowers over the past week. <br />FISH and WILDLIFE – Rule 4.18: <br /> Wildlife was seen throughout the mine site. Both on reclaimed areas, mountain shrub reference area, and <br />active haul road areas. Animals sighted included Pronghorn antelope, Elk, Mule deer, and raptors. Mine <br />personnel avoid vehicle collisions with the wildlife. Several different species of butterfly and caterpillars were <br />observed on reclaimed area vegetation. <br /> <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br /> As a result of the Division’s inspection conducted on 7/28/2017, The Division is evaluating the damage <br />and construction of the “Final East Pit Ditch”. <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> The inspector looked at the Aspen and Tall Shrub study area. This area has varying topsoil replacement <br />thickness and different woody shrub transplants. This plot remains fenced to eliminate browsing pressure from <br />wildlife. Quite a few Musk thistle have invaded into this plot. Canada thistle patches were noted as well. The <br />Canada thistle had already gone to seed, so weed spraying would be ineffective until late in the season when the <br />new shoots emerge. Due to the survival of some of the shrubs, weed spraying would need to be done with a <br />backpack sprayer to minimize spraying of the surviving shrubs. The shrubs on the thin topsoil area have better <br />survival, but thinner vegetative cover. The grass and herbaceous cover in the deep topsoil treatments is very <br />dense, yet the shrub survival in the deep topsoil treatment is poor. <br /> <br />The inspector observed the vegetation sampling crew sampling the mountain shrub reference area. The sampling