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Anecdotal comments by livestock operators to reclamation management personnel indicate satisfaction with the <br /> reclaimed grazing resource and resulting animal performance. Wildlife frequents the site and wildlife <br /> monitoring conducted from 1994 through 2010. Monitoring through 2007 focused on large game,upland birds, <br /> raptors and predators. Elk and mule deer are commonly observed throughout the year making use of forage and <br /> cover on the reclaimed areas. Spring and summer sightings of elk cow calf pairs are frequent. Annual <br /> monitoring reports through 2007 indicate steadily increasing numbers of elk and mule deer. DRMS inspections <br /> routinely note the presence of big game, especially lactating elk,upland birds and raptors. Annual reclamation <br /> reports submitted to DRMS present wildlife monitoring results. DRMS finds the operator has reclaimed the SL7 <br /> bond release block to support the post mine land use. <br /> III. OBSERVATIONS and FINDINGS <br /> The evaluation of this bond release application(SL7),included the bond release inspection,a review of the <br /> permit requirements and regulatory criteria,and review of past inspection reports,annual reclamation and <br /> hydrology reports. During the bond release inspection,participants walked through all parcels requested for <br /> bond release making visual assessments of compliance with the requirements as described above in Section II of <br /> this document. The 21 July 2020 inspection report details the findings from the inspection. A summary of the <br /> observations is discussed below. <br /> The bond release inspection comprised a joint inspection for SL6 and SL7. Several maintenance items were <br /> identified during the inspection. These items were outlined in the findings document for SL6. All items were <br /> addressed by SPL and at the next DRMS inspection of the site were found to be adequately addressed. Ponds <br /> and stock ponds were in good repair and have received permanent designation from the Division of Water <br /> Resources. The requested release areas report surface runoff to sediment ponds#005 and 006. Constructed <br /> drainages observed where found well armored and stable with established vegetation on banks and grasses <br /> taking hold in the channel. <br /> The water quality monitoring plan referenced in Tab 15 and associated appendices of the permit document has <br /> undergone several updates over the years with the most recent update associated with permitting action TR82 in <br /> 2016. Several reductions in monitoring were granted as a result of TR82. Additionally, several parameters were <br /> suspended in 2010 as a result of TR69. The suspended parameters will be analyzed one year prior to final bond <br /> release. <br /> 367.0 acres of lands requested in the Phase III Bond release application (SL7), have been approved for <br /> Phase II release in previous permitting actions. Final vegetation reclamation success was evaluated for <br /> vegetative cover, herbaceous productivity, species diversity and woody plant density. Hydrologic impacts <br /> were also evaluated. <br /> Vegetation Results <br /> Tables 2 and 4,of the CCAI report included in Appendix D of the SL7 application, include two summary tables. <br /> These tables are shown below for reference. <br /> Permit Number: C1982057 Page 8 of 15 <br /> Phase III <br />