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June 19, 2018 C-1981-012/New Elk Mine JHB <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 10 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br /> <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br /> <br />(6)/4.03.2(5) and (6): <br /> The roads throughout the facilities area have been maintained and are in good repair. NECC has reshaped <br />the roadside ditches and continues to maintain the facilities area. <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> Areas that have been reclaimed at the New Elk mine were inspected. The west portal in well vegetated <br />and the reclaimed site appears stable. No erosional features were noted and the vegetative cover was good. The <br />area has been very dry, so the vegetation was beginning to dry up, but overall the established vegetation was good. <br />There is a proliferation of yellow sweetclover this year. However, adequate perennial species are present to keep <br />the yellow sweetclover from becoming dominant. <br /> <br />The Development waste pile No. 1 continues to show well established vegetation on the slopes. The south facing <br />slope has thinner cover of vegetation than the north, but the slope appears stable with no active gullying. The <br />drainage just to the west of the Development waste pile No. 1, also had noxious weeds becoming established. <br />Control of these weed should minimize their spread on to the reclaimed adjacent area. <br /> <br />The topsoil stockpile and subsoil stock piles near the main entrance road also support good cover, though once <br />again, yellow sweetclover is present in large numbers. <br /> <br />REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> Vince and one other staff member were using ATV (gators) to spray noxious weeds for control. Vince <br />said he was using 2.4-D and was concentrating on spraying Field bindweed, Houndstongue, thistle and Wooly <br />Mullein along the roadway to the West Portal. Soon after we encountered Vince, we saw Poison hemlock on the <br />berms of the storage area and near the Purgatoire River. We showed the Hemlock to Vince and the inspector gave <br />Nick a copy of the CWMA Noxious Weeds of Colorado 12th edition booklet. <br /> <br />A small patch of Ox Eye daisy was noted in the facilities area, under a piece of equipment located just to the east <br />of the coal scales and north of Pond 001 <br /> <br />SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: <br /> Facilities area is well maintained, with ditches cleaned and materials stored in appropriate locations. <br /> <br /> <br />DOCUMENTS RECEIVED NA <br />OTHER (SPECIFY) NA <br /> <br />ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS/COMPLIANCE <br /> <br />No enforcement actions were initiated as a result of this inspection, nor are any pending.