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2) Runoff along the west side of East pit (above the permanent road) should have been directed <br />northwazd off the north end of North Pit, rather than southwazd to the drop structure at the <br />southwest comer of East. <br />3) The ditch next to the permanent road that flows to the drop structure (ditch 2S1) should be lined <br />with rock to control downcutting in the ditch. <br />4) When gullies and rills have been regraded, they have been too lightly seeded. <br />After the inspection, I briefly examined from Highway 151 undisturbed hillsides immediately west and <br />east of Chimney Rock Mine. I was trying to determine how well these undisturbed slopes had resisted <br />erosion during the recent storms, in comparison to the reclaimed lands on the mine. I looked at slopes <br />that were similaz to the mine's reclaimed slopes in terms of aspect (south, east, and west facing), <br />steepness, and the amount of vegetative cover. These undisturbed slopes showed little or no gully <br />erosion. My impression from this cursory investigation was that the undisturbed slopes appeazed to be <br />armored with a natural rock regolith that protected them from gully erosion. A highway culvert a short <br />distance east of the mine had a sediment fan several feet thick at its inlet that came from what appeared <br />to be an undisturbed natural drainage, although I could not see very faz up the drainage. <br />At the start of the inspection, Mel Martinez expressed his concern that he had wanted brome grass in <br />the East Pit azea. <br />During the inspection, I visually checked transect sampling data in the bond release application at <br />several reclaimed locations, and in the reference azea. Abundant grasses in the reclaimed azeas <br />included intermediate wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, and side-oats grama. Forbs included alfalfa and <br />lamb's quarter. Rose (Woodsrose?) and sagebrush were common woody shrubs. No weed problems or <br />significant haze azeas were found. Cover was significantly greater on north facing slopes than on other <br />slopes. The seasonality and forage characteristics of the vegetative species appeazed suitable for the <br />post-mining land use of cattle grazing. No species toxic to cattle were found. <br />Vegetative cover in the reference azea appeazed greater than cover in some locations on the reclaimed <br />areas. Rock cover (regolith) appeazed significantly greater in the reference area than on the reclaimed <br />azea. After considering the effect that three months of growth (since sampling) may have had on the <br />data and the relative imprecision of my visual observations compazed to the point-intercept sampling <br />methods used, I concluded that the cover and diversity percentages reported for transects appeazed <br />consistent with my field observations. As part of the review of the bond release application, the <br />Division is evaluating the vegetation sampling data submitted in the application. <br />General Mine Plan Compliance <br />The operator appeazs to be in compliance with all aspects of the mine plan and appeazs to have fulfilled <br />all reclamation obligations, with the exception of the erosion damage mentioned above. <br />Reclamation Success <br />Observations made during this inspection indicate the operator has removed all structures, and has <br />successfully backfilled and regraded the lands. With the exception of the erosion damage mentioned in <br />6 <br />