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residential. <br />In general, the sedimentation control system was functioning as designed. The vegetative cover on the <br />reclaimed areas was moderate to good so sediment contributions from those areas have been <br />minimized. There were no indications of active gullying on the disturbed area. <br />As mentioned previously in this inspection report, in June of 1999, the operator constructed a spring <br />water treatment pond to treat the orange-colored water that is coming from the hill side in the azea of <br />the old Edwazds/Clazk Mine B-seam portal. The flow from this treatment pond is being directed by <br />pipe into the North Fork of the Gunnison River. This discharge point is designated as NPDES <br />discharge point 001 and is described in the NPDES permit as being mine water discharge. The <br />Division requests an update on Bear Coal Company's efforts to change the NPDES permit flow <br />description from mine water discharge to spring water dischazge and to remove the spring water <br />treatment pond outfall designation from the NPDES permit. Reclamation of the pond will be <br />necessary if the portal spring water is removed from the NPDES permit. <br />Several occurrences of noxious weeds were noted. There were a few occurrences of thistle along the <br />lower section of the reclaimed portal access road. These plants need to be sprayed before they spread. <br />There also aze several occurrences of tamazisk (salt cedaz) growing in the spring water treatment pond, <br />in the sediment pond, on the east side Edwards portal spring and along the chain link fence neaz the <br />mine site entrance gate. Finally, a large section of the level facilities area has been taken over by cheat <br />grass. This is a potential problem since the 10 yeaz reclamation period might need to be restarted if <br />major vegetation augmentation work is performed. <br />As stated in this inspection report, the Division is requesting additional information concerning this <br />bond release process. When the information is received, the Division will review all of the information, <br />including water quality data and previous Division inspection reports, and render a proposed decision. <br />The basis for the proposed decision will be discussed in the Division's findings document that will <br />accompany the proposed decision. <br />Attachment <br />c:/word/bear3/insp0704bond <br />8 <br />