INSPEC18127 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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. This was a partial inspection conducted by Janet Binns of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology. Mr. Ross Gubka and Mr. Tony Adkins accompanied the inspection. The weather is warm and the mine site is very dry. This mine is an active surface mine with one active pit. The focus of this inspection was to visually evaluate WF-C's proposed dryland pasture reference area. Reclaimed dryland pasture and irrigated pastures planned to be sampled for bond release purposes were evaluated as well. Dryland pasture at East end of the mine is very dry. This parcel is visually dominated by Russian wildrye, Alfalfa, some Timothy, and a fair amount of Redstem filaree. Tansy mustard was present sporadically. Though annual species continue to be present in this area, no noxious species were noted. The cover in the dryland pasture parcel was thin with a fair amount of bare ground and annual species amidst the perennial species. Erosional features were not evident. The Rice tract on the New Horizon No. 1 (NHl) area exhibits similaz conditions to the dryland pasture parcel on the east side of the mine. Rice Tract vegetation appeazed less consistent, and visually had a patchy appearance (Photo 1). An annual forb, Redstem filaree, was consistent throughout the perennial stand. An absence of Cheatgrass was noted. No noxious species were observed. The stand is sparse but existing vegetation appears healthy. Irrigated pastures exhibit excellent cover, few weedy species, and no noxious species. Irrigated pasture was visually dominated by perennial pasture grasses and alfalfa. WF-C reports that alfalfa concentrations diminish after approximately 5-growing seasons. Local farming practice is to interseed alfalfa into irrigated pasture periodically. WF-C contracts with local fanners for reclaimed pasture management. The airport dryland pasture/rangeland reference area was observed (Photo 2). This reference area visually looks similaz to the surrounding rangeland. The airport reference area is fenced and grazing is currently not permitted within the fenced airport property. Fourwing saltbrush (Atrtplex canescens) was present periodically in the rangeland reference area with small young plants present in the understory. Perennial grasses are sparsely distributed through out, perennial scazlet globemallow (Spharealcia coccinea), annual mustards, Tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), and redstem filazee (Erodium cicutarium) aze consistent throughout. Small saltbrush were evident indicating shrub species are increasing in this azea. There is no woody stem requirement on the reclaimed pasture azeas on the mine. WF-C's concern with utilizing the currently approved Dryland pasture(Rangeland reference azea for both post-mining land use compazisons adds the cover attributed to shrub species into the cover values. Some of the Fourwing saltbrush are very lazge and may add a considerable amount of additional cover not comparable to any species seeded in the reclaimed dryland pasture areas. The proposed Dryland pasture reference azea (Photo 3) is located adjacent to the approved Dryland pasturelRangeland reference area. WF-C proposes to use the currently approved Dryland pasture/Rangeland reference azea only asRangeland reference area and add a new Dryland pasture reference area. The proposed Dryland pasture reference are~flagged on the ground visually compares favorably with the approved reference area but lacks the shrub component. Several lazge Juniper trees were included in the proposed reference area. WF-C may propose that the tree species will not be Page 3 of 5