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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 inspection conducted by Kent Gorham of the Colorado Division of <br />Minerals and Geology (CDMG). Also in attendance for the inspection were Sandy Brown, <br />Dan Mathews, and Jim Stark of CDMG. Another purpose of the inspection was to conduct <br />vegetation sampling at the reclaimed areas associated with this site. This mine site consists <br />of two, separate reclaimed areas; a coal loadout/tipple area and aportal/refuse pile area, <br />separated geographically by a rocky ridgeline. Ground conditions on this day were dry and <br />the weather was warm. <br />Assisting with the revegetation sampling were Dan Mathews, Dan Hernandez and Jim Stark. <br />Prior to collecting the field data for cover and production, Jim Stark prepared a map and <br />entered GPS coordinates for the sampling locations. A random start, systematic grid was <br />established over the portal area and the loadout area. At each area 15 cover transects were <br />sampled and production was clipped in 30'/~ mZ quadrats. Quadrats were placed at the 0 <br />mark on each transect and 15 quadrats were clipped at alternating points on the gird for a <br />total of 30 samples at the portal and 30 samples at the loadout. The clipped vegetation will <br />be dried in ovens at CSU for 10 days and then weighed. <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />The lone sediment pond at the portal area was dry, although the bottom of the pond <br />appeared recently muddy, indicating some retention of water. The single pond at the coal <br />sales yard was also dry. <br />Processing Waste <br />A refuse disposal area is located immediately east of the reclaimed portal area. Water is <br />diverted from above this area through a 100-year diversion ditch which was found intact and <br />functional. No sign of slumps, slides, or erosion was noted. <br />Reveoetation <br />Vegetation was sampled using the methods discussed above. This was the second year of <br />data collection and there was a striking difference between the vegetation cover last year, <br />when the conditions were extremely dry and this year given the increased precipitation last <br />winter and spring. Diversity was considerable higher, but the dominant plants at the portal <br />area were: rubber rabbitbrush, western wheatgrass, smooth brome, snakeweed. A large <br />patch of Palmer penstemon was in bloom. At the coal loadout area the dominant species <br />were: rubber rabbitbrush, and western wheatgrass. Several warm season grasses were <br />observed including: blue grams grass, red three awn, and side oats grams. A complete <br />species list and the results of the data collection will be included in a full report in the near <br />future. <br />Overall, the area appeared in good condition with no problems noted. <br />3 <br />