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Colowyo C-1981-019 <br />25 July 2006 ~~~ <br />Pg 6/7 <br />Fish and Wildlife: -There were numerous deer on the Colowyo Mine site including <br />one doe and a newborn fawn crossing the haul road. <br />- Most of the ponds (the ones with water) had ducks and ducklings. <br />Revegetation/Reclamation Success: -The Section 16 Pit reclamation appeared to be <br />stable at the time of the inspection. There were no erosional problems noted on the <br />reclamation and the area is very well vegetated. <br />- The areas of the East Pit reclamation that have been Phase II bond released were <br />all well vegetated and stable at the time of the inspection. No erosional problems <br />were noted on these areas. <br />-The areas of the East Pit where topsoil was replaced and the areas were reseeded <br />last fall area all doing well. The vegetation is beginning to grow and the areas all <br />remain stable. There is a great deal of weeds but this is normal for year one <br />reclamation. No erosional problems were noted on any of these areas. <br />- There were numerous patches of Canadian Thistle on the west side of the Section 16 <br />pit that need to be sprayed. The Canadian Thistle on the east side of the Section 16 <br />Pit has been sprayed and is either dead or dying. <br />Air Resource Protection: -The haul roads were dry and the haul trucks were causing <br />some dust but the operator was continually watering the roads at the time of the <br />inspection. The operator was also putting MgCI on the roads to help control dust. <br />There was not a problem with fugitive dust. <br />-The Bower Brothers were also watering their haul roads to control fugitive dust at the <br />time of the inspection. <br />-The coal stacking operations at the Gossard Loadout were not causing any fugitive <br />dust at the time of the inspection. <br />Excess Spoil: -The reclaimed portions of the West Pit spoil pile were well vegetated <br />and appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. Runoff from this portion of <br />the pile goes into the West Pit pond. No erosional problems were noted of the pile at <br />the time of the inspection. The upper portion of the pile is truck-dumped spoil. This <br />part of the pile appeared to be stable at the time of the inspection. The reclamation <br />plan calls for the top 75 feet of this pile to be hauled to the West Pit to achieve AOC. <br />This is being further addressed in Technical Revision 63. Apart of the unreclaimed <br />upper portion of the pile is being used as a storage and work area for mainly the <br />electric cable for the draglines and shovels. The operator indicated that they would <br />begin removing the upper portion of the pile this summer and complete some of the <br />West Pit reclamation (north edge of the West Pit). <br />- Streeter fill was well vegetated and appeared to be stable at the time of the <br />inspection. No erosional problems were noted on the fill. This pile has gone through <br />a Phase II bond release. The operator has submitted Technical Revision 64 to <br />terminate quarterly inspections for this pile. The Division has sent out a preliminary <br />adequacy letter for TR-64. The Streeter pond below, however, still receives runoff <br />from disturbed areas, so it must remain. <br />