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<br />III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action, <br />This was a complete quarterly inspection of the reclaimed Fruita mine permit revocation site, <br />conducted by Dan Mathews of the DMG Grand Junction Office. Weather during the inspection <br />was clear and warm. Surface soils were relatively dry, with the exception of the bottom of the <br />sediment pond, which was muddy from inflow resulting from rainfall on the night of October 18. <br />Sions and Markers <br />The mine I.D. sign with DMG address and phone number remains in place on the mine gate and, <br />despite damage from bullets and shotgun pellets, the DMG phone number remains legible. <br />Roads <br />The mine bench access road was reclaimed (extensively roughened, seeded, and drainages <br />reestablished) in 2000. <br />4 <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />The sediment pond remains in place. The pond bottom was muddy, with no standing water. <br />Sediment level in the pond remains approximately 4.5 feet below the top of the spillway riser. <br />Cracks at the base of the spillway riser pipe described in the September inspection report had <br />been enlarged by subsequent flow. The small crack previously described has enlarged into a hole <br />up to 12" wide at the surtacing, narrowing with depth. Depth of the hole appeared to exceed 18 <br />inches. Inflow to the pond has apparently entered the buried discharge pipe through holes or <br />rusted seams. <br />Recent flow was evident in various channel locations in the mine vicinity, but conditions of the <br />drainage channels and extent of channel erosion was essentially as described in the September <br />16 inspection report. <br />Backfill and Gradino <br />Backfill slopes appear stable, with no evidence of slumping, caving, or excessive erosion. <br />Conditions were essentially as described in the September 16 inspection report. <br />Revepetation and Reclamation Success <br />As described in previous inspection reports, vegetative growth this year was very good, due to <br />favorable precipitation in the fall of 2004 and spring of 2005. Conditions are essentially the same <br />as described in the September 16 inspection report. <br />