INSPEC15872

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 7/8/2005
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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.
005-E1 reclaimed watershed, and along the "G" road corridor down to Pond 005, that do
appear to have produced mature seed. Also, the steep dozer roughened portion of the "D"
Pit highwall reduction slope that was seeded in 2004 with the shrub mix, and planted with
seedling shrubs, was walked during the inspection. The entire area is heavily infested with
noxious weeds, primarily Canada thistle, houndstongue, and bull thistle, along with
scattered black henbane. There are some surviving seedling shrubs, but they have been
heavily browsed. There is minimal establishment of seeded species.
In summary, the recently reclaimed portion of the 005-E1 watershed in the "D" Pit area is
severely infested with biennial and perennial noxious weeds. Intensive, thorough, and
sustained control measures will be necessary, and it appears that re-seeding will be
necessary, after initial control measures have been completed. Operator should contact the
Routt County Weed Manager for specific guidance regarding recommended treatment
measures and timing for black henbane, and the combination of other noxious weed
species. A combination of fall and spring herbicide treatments may be warranted in 2005
and 2006, possibly combined with mechanical control of henbane in 2006 and chemical
and/or mechanical controls in subsequent years. Seeding with the upland seedmix (Seedmix
1) may be warranted in fall 2006, in the treated areas. Control measures will need to
include the primary infestation areas within the 2004 reclamation, as well as black henbane
"outliers" in other portions of the "D" Pit reclamation, and along the "G" Road corridor.
The aspen study plot irrigation system is operational. Monitoring and weeding of the test
'-- ~ plot area is on-going. The aspen study plot schematic diagram in the permit application was
recently amended, as requested in the previous inspection report. The test plot area was
not closely observed during the inspection, but Roy Karo indicated that a significant number
of the transplanted aspen trees had been girdled and killed, apparently by mice.
The depression area in the fenced aspen/shrub establishment area on the eastern ridgeline
still contained some standing water. The site was not closely inspected, but the operator
indicated that willows had recently been planted in the wet areas of the site.
Fence construction had recently been completed for an aspen/shrub planting area near the
T-5 Stockpond, west of the aspen test plots. Corner posts had been set for an additional
aspen/shrub planting area of at least 5 acres, encompassing the east facing swale off the
ridgeline, in the Pond 015 watershed, north of the existing ridgeline aspen planting area.
The "aspen farm" area was inspected. This is an area of 3-5 acres where aspen trees and
brush was cleared to stimulate aspen suckering, to serve as a source of site adapted aspen
saplings for future reclamation use. The area is located along the northerri edge of the
aspen grove that would have been mined through under the original mine plan for the Wolf
Creek/Sage Creek mining block. The clearing was done in the fall of 2005. To date, there
has been a modest amount of aspen suckering, and extensive suckering of chokecherry.
Most of the aspen sprouts showed evidence of browsing. Elk fencing of the aspen farm
area will be completed within the next few weeks; the fencing contractor was on site at the
time of the inspection.
3