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June 12, 2018 C-1980-007/West 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 />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> The reclaimed pads and access roads being sampled had good vegetative cover. Occasional noxious <br />weeds were encountered, but these were occasional individuals and did not constitute any kind of an infestation. <br />The operator had placed tree trunks across the steeper reclaimed roads. These features help function as water bars <br />and reduce runoff velocity and create microsites. In spite of the steepness of the reclaimed road, gullies were non- <br />existent and vegetation had become well established. <br /> <br />The reclaimed vegetation had very good diversity. The roadway was a healthy mix of perennial grasses, perennial <br />forbs and shrub species. <br /> <br />Once the reclaimed road reached the top of the ridge and the slope became more open and east facing, the <br />vegetation became more dominated by grasses, with fewer shrubs established. The reclaimed pads, 23-03b, 23- <br />03a, 23-01, 01-23-01, 22-02b, 22-026, and 22-01 (based upon the reference map) all had good vegetative cover <br />with no erosional concerns. The eastern facing reclaimed access roads connecting these reclaimed pads, already <br />showed signs of the herbaceous vegetation drying up. The area has been very dry with little measurable <br />precipitation prior to this sampling effort. <br /> <br />Overall, this reclaimed parcel of reclaimed drainage well pads, and reclaimed associated access roads has become <br />well established, with good diversity. <br /> <br />REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> Mike assessed that the growth habits of much of the vegetation was approximately 3 weeks ahead of what <br />he had observed in 2017. Snowberry was blooming, as well as Arrow leaf balsamroot. Columbine were in bloom <br />on the reclaimed roadway. Other species observed on the reclaimed areas that were in bloom include fleabane, <br />Rocky mountain penstemon, and a small native penstemon, yarrow, as well as slender wheatgrass. This list is not <br />exhaustive but represents some of the more visually dominant species observed. <br /> <br />The sampling crew was collecting vegetative cover data using an optical point frame. They were also collecting <br />production data by clipping current year’s vegetative growth with in a defined quadrat. Sampling locations were <br />predetermined prior to arriving in the field. The sampling crew had also sampled on Monday June11, 2018, in <br />adjacent areas, and expected that the sampling would take at least an additional day, if not more. <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.