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seed mix; this annual provides significant additional cover, though. No weed problems or lazge bare <br />areas were found. Litter and rock cover appears to be at least 5%. Live vegetative cover appears to be <br />at least 10% (excluding noxious species) and appeazs adequate for controlling erosion on this land. All <br />of the bond release area reports to sediment control ponds. <br />Slides and Dama¢e <br />The mine site was hit by large region-wide storms on September 19 and 20, 2004, creating numerous <br />gullies on the South pit reclaimed slope and the road on the north side of the slope. The storms also <br />were probably the cause of new downcutting of more than 10 ft. deep in the main channel of Carbon <br />Junction, upstream from the mine's disturbed ground. This magnitude of downcutting may indicate <br />the storms were greater than a 10-year frequency. Assuming the coal bond release is approved, repair <br />of the gullies on the South pit reclaimed slope would be the responsibility of the gravel pit operator. <br />Reclamation Success <br />Coal and gravel have been mined From the South pit azea. The South pit area immediately adjoins the <br />currently active sand and gravel pit, and is part of that operation as a result of an amendment made to <br />the gravel mining permit in 2003. The South pit azea was regraded, topsoiled, and revegetated by the <br />gravel operator in 2003. Drainage control has been re-established in the South pit area and is <br />maintained in the active gravel mining portion of the bond release area. The access road that surrounds <br />the South pit azea remains in place for use by the gravel operation. The revegetated part of the South <br />pit azea is now covered by vegetation in sufficient quantity to control erosion and to support the gravel <br />mining postmining landuse. Final reclamation of the South pit area is to be completed according to the <br />requirements of the gravel permit. All of the bond release azea outside the former South pit azea is <br />actively being used as a gravel mining operation, the approved postmining landuse. Observations made <br />during this inspection would support a finding that the operator has met the requirements for Phases I, <br />II, and III bond release in the bond release area. <br />