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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. This was a complete inspection conducted by Janet Binns of CDMG. Mr. Rick Mills of Empire RAG provided access to the records and accompanied the inspection. Weather was cloudy at the onset of the inspection, giving way to a thunderstorm. Mine site has been extremely dry prior to the rainstorm. An adjacent mine measured 0.2 inches rainfall from the Tuesday evening storm event. The mine is in Temporary Cessation. No active mining activity is occurring on the mine site. The 5 portals have been backfilled while the SA portal area remains ungraded.. Records: Records were checked at the mine office. Records list accompanies this report. 2000 Annual Reclamation Report was not readily available at the Empire RAG office. The operator electronically forwarded this document to the inspector. A copy of the 2000 ARR needs to be filed at the mine site as well. Roads: Roads remain in good condition with no problems noted on with the roadways. Hydrolosic Balance: Empire continues to pump underground mine water out of the mine and process it through the approved treatment system. 7 North Angle well was flowing a[ the time of [he inspection. Waste water treatment cells contained a low volume of water and are not discharging, nor are they actively being pumped into. Pond SA PI was dry. Inslopes exhibit fair vegetation. No concerns were noted with this pond. Shop Area pond P2 was dry. Slopes had good vegetative cover. Pond 9P2 was full of water and was discharging to Pond 9P3. Pond 9P3 was discharging 0.31 on staff gauge. Ponds 9P1, 9P4, 9P5, 9P7, 9P8, and HRP A & B were all dry and well vegetated. No problems were observed on any of the ponds. Ditches throughout mine site appear to be functional. Operator discussed surface lessee's desire to create a stockwater tank. The operator would prefer to allow a steel water tank that the lessee can pump water from the 9P2 pond. The operator will keep the Division apprised of what the agreed water disposition is with the lessee. Reve¢etation: In accordance with Stipulation 10, the operator was sampling the proposed drylattd pasture. Site is very dry with short (6-8 inch high) grasses. This pasture is dominated by Crested Wheatgrass. There was evidence of cattle having been in this area this year, though site does not appear obviously grazed. The operator needs to provide detail of grazing of this area. Knapweed was noted throughout the mine site. Heavy infestation of knapweed was observed by the HR ponds. Weed control measures need to be taken on the knapweed as soon as possible. Plants were beginning to flower. Chemical weed control efforts are more effective if used prior to full Flower. Bull Thistle infestation was noted at the Brazel-Simms yard area. The Williams Fork Pit area was inspected. Vegetation is good, though dry, with visual dominance of Wheatgrasses, and wildrye. Shrubs and forb species are present in low frequencies. Fish and Wildlife: The operator maintains fish in the 9P2 pond. Antelope, and mule deer were observed through out the mine site.