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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. Hydrologic Balance, Cont'd Sediment Pond 8 and Pond 1 &2 contained shallow puddles of water; other sediment ponds and SAE sumps were dry. There was small flow out of both portal openings at the South Portal Area, which was properly draining into Pond 8 via the portal bench drain and buried pipe. Minewater Discharge Site 016 was discharging clear flow, approximately 300 gpm. Backfilling and Grading The various backfilled and graded areas were walked, and no slumping, cracking, or other signs of instability were apparent. No areas of excessive rills and gullies were observed. Processing Waste Most areas of both CRDA waste disposal sites and the RSRDA waste disposal site were walked. There were no indications of instability or excessive erosion. Diversions, perimeter ditches, and terrace drains appeared to be properly maintained and functional. Seep locations on CRDA-1 were dry at the time of the inspection, as was the underdrain outlet location in Sediment Pond 6. The apparent success of revegetation on the reclaimed waste disposal area locations was qualitatively assessed, and is discussed under the "Revegetation" section of this report. Support Facilities Snowcap Coal Company has recently leased the lower facility area at the South Mine, including the small wood frame office building and the large metal training/cafeteria building, to Brant Harrison, a local fruit grower. Mr. Harrison plans to renovate the facilities and use them in his operation as a roadside fruit stand (the office building) and for storage Ithe metal building). SCC will be submitting a permit revision application soon to address postmining land use change to commercial, along with associated reclamation plan changes. Mr. Harrison has already initiated facility renovation work, and is planning to have the fruit stand open later this summer. The clean up of power pole debris at the RSRDA soil borrow area (noted in the previous inspection), had been completed. The berm at the lower end of the light use road that ends at the edge of the borrow area needs to be reestablished. Revegetation/Reclamation Success Due to above normal fall/winter/early spring precipitation this year, there is an unusually dense flush of winter annual species growth including annual grasses; mustards, storksbill, etc., on various reclaimed areas, as well as undisturbed areas in the mine vicinity. Many of these species have recently matured and produced seed. Qualitative assessment of various reclaimed parcels is presented here below. North Porta/ Reclaimed Area There is a lush growth of cheatgrass and other winter annuals in portions of this reclaimed area. In the 4