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August 20, 2019 C-1981-008/New Horizon Mine JHB <br /> RECLAMATION SUCCESS -Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> Other than discussion with the landowners of the IC-1 parcel regarding the irrigation tail water <br /> management,no concerns were identified in the field on the reclaimed parcels. The Division will continue to <br /> evaluate the bond release application. <br /> REVEGETATION—Rule 4.15 <br /> Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> Vegetation was observed on the parcels requested for Phase II bond release and Phase III bond release. All parcels <br /> requested for release area have agricultural or agricultural support post-mining land uses. The approved land uses <br /> are irrigated cropland, irrigated pasture, dryland pasture, and adjacent support facility. <br /> The irrigated cropland was not being irrigated at the time of the inspection. The field had been allowed to dry and <br /> the alfalfa was recently cut. The landowner was allowing the cut hay to dry before baling. The inspection party <br /> walked through the western and northern portion of the field to allow the landowners to point out the drainage <br /> concerns. Differential settling of the regraded field results in low areas that pool water. These pooled areas <br /> negatively affect the health of the alfalfa crop. Management of these current areas will be mitigated with stored <br /> fill material and stockpiled topsoil. The landowner is proceeding with the previously determined crop rotation. <br /> The plan is to address the low areas with the next crop rotation. <br /> Areas with poor drainage result in infill by grasses. The grass is not currently the desired crop of the landowner. <br /> We discussed several options to aid in drainage of the field. The operator and landowner were planning to discuss <br /> acceptable agricultural solutions. This concern will continue to be evaluated. Run off from the field was not <br /> creating gullies off site. <br /> The dryland pastures in parcel DP-10 had good stands of introduced and native grasses appropriate for pasture. <br /> These fields were not weedy and no patches of noxious weed infestations were identified. Occasional thistle or <br /> knapweed were noted,but not in any concentration to be considered an infestation or a"patch". ERMR continues <br /> to manage noxious weeds in accordance with the approved plan. <br /> Irrigated pasture IP-9 was being irrigated at the time of the inspection. This field is a grass/alfalfa hay mixture. <br /> Visually this field appeared to have a good stand. No bare or weedy areas were noted at the time of the inspection. <br /> Parcel DP-14 is a thin strip and is used as access to Parcel DP-15 and fields on the northwest side of the <br /> intersection of BB road and 2700 Road.No problems were identified with either parcel DP-14 or DP 15. Both <br /> parcels had an adequate cover consisting of a grass mix.No erosional features were observed in these two parcels. <br /> ERMR has requested phase III bond release on Dryland Pasture parcels DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, DP-4,DP-5, DP-6, <br /> DP-7, DP-8, and DP-9. All parcel were observed. The fields had good stands of dryland grass/forb mixes. The <br /> sites were not weedy. Noxious species were not invading any of the parcels. Erosional features were non- <br /> existent, even on the steeper slopes in parcels DP-2, DP-3, DP-5, DP-6, and DP-9, south of Tuttle Draw. DP-8 is <br /> the location of topsoil stockpile footprint near Tuttle draw. The vegetation was well established that it was <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 1 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br /> Page 3 of 8 <br />