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outslope areas. No sign of significant erosion was noted. One small gully exists in <br />the eastern portion of the area labeled C. <br />Areas labeled H and I were also traversed on foot. Area H was a topsoil borrow area <br />associated with final reclamation of the development waste pile. This. area showed no <br />sign of runoff and was adequately vegetated. Area I is relatively flat with gentle side <br />slopes down to the access road. It appeared in excellent condition. <br />Area L comprises the reclamation of the pond 2 series of mine dewatering ponds. It <br />slopes gently eastward to Ciruela Canyon, an ephemeral drainage. It was found in good <br />condition with a few areas of spotty weeds in the northern section. <br />The lower Apache Canyon vent site transferred to the Golden Eagle permit from the New <br />Elk permit (#C-81-012) was visited. The concrete vent seal remains. Vegetation is good <br />at this level site. <br />Two pastureland reclaimed areas labeled A and R were traversed on fool:. Area A has been <br />revegetated for three years and is in excellent condition. Area R has experienced only <br />one significant growing season and evidence of non-noxious, annual weE~ds was noted. <br />Both of these areas are relatively flat and vegetation is more than adequate to control <br />erosion. <br />The remainder of the areas labeled on Figure A-1 were observed casua lly and no problems <br />were noted. <br />The NW-1 vent fan site is located on lands owned by the Tatum family. Reclamation of <br />the short access road and the vent pad site is very recent. Vegetation was noted as <br />poor, likely due to the extended dry conditions experienced this growing season. The <br />inspection participants discussed excluding this area from the bond release request due <br />to the immature vegetation. The overall reclamation of this site was the focus of the <br />Tatum's objection to bond release. In particular, this area will be 'the subject of <br />further review in the second part of this bond release inspection process. <br />Soil Methane Monitoring <br />The area being monitored for methane in soils is partially owned by Mr. John Toupal. <br />Earlier in the week, two gas wells on the Toupal property east of the reclaimed area had <br />been cemented, regraded and reseeded. Regraded areas blend in well to the surrounding <br />pasture. No change in the vegetation die-out was noted. Additional monitoring for soil <br />methane will continue to the extent necessary to determine whether gas well abandonment <br />has had any affect on the methane levels in the soil. The bond release application does <br />not specifically request any liability release of this area. The area falls outside of <br />the current permit boundary. <br />The inspection participants discussed the future continuation of the inspection process <br />to accommodate the Tatum objection and the inspection was terminated for the time being. <br />Page 3 <br />