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June 11,2021 C-1981-022/Elk Creek Mine LDS <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 N -Roads <br /> R -Availability of Records R -Reclamation Success <br /> N -Backfill&Grading R -Revegetation <br /> N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence <br /> N -Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage <br /> N -Fish&Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site <br /> R -Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers <br /> N -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br /> N -Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br /> N -Processing Waste N -Topsoil <br /> CONVOENTS <br /> This was a complete inspection by Leigh Simmons of the Division of Reclamation,Mining and Safety <br /> (Division).The weather was clear,hot and dry. The status of the Elk Creek Mine is"active"however no coal is <br /> being mined and the only activity since the last inspection was site maintenance. <br /> AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS—Rule 5.02.4(1): <br /> Records were available in the mine office,details are given at the end of this report. <br /> HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 <br /> Drainage Control 4.05.1,4.05.2,4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5,4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7,4.05.10; <br /> Diversions 4.05.4;Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; <br /> Drainage—Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6,4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br /> Water was flowing in Elk Creek,but at a very low level. <br /> RECLAMATION SUCCESS-Rule 4.15,Rule 3: <br /> The reclaimed Elk Creek channel was in excellent shape following a moderate run-off season. The repairs <br /> made at the inlet to the remaining section of culvert under the haul road had held up well,and the rocks and rip-rap <br /> used to line the channel had continued to"bed in".The vegetation on the banks of the channel had also grown <br /> thicker and more mature, and had grown between the rocks in the channel,further consolidating them in position. <br /> REVEGETATION—Rule 4.15 <br /> Vegetative Cover;Timing: <br /> Vegetation around the facilities area had begun to dry out in the hot dry weather.Cover and diversity on <br /> the reclaimed areas seeded in late 2017 and 2018 looked generally very good after 2-3 full growing seasons,The <br /> greatest concern at this stage is some patches of cheat grass(visible in photos below),these patches should be <br /> closely monitored to see that they don't crowd out desirable vegetation or spread more widely. <br /> Vegetation at higher elevations was still verdant and many plants were flowering.A significant patch of <br /> white top was observed on the south side of the road used to access the GVB pads on the east side of Bear Creek. <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 9 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br /> Page 2 of 8 <br />