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III. COMMENTS-COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments in Section IV describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. This is the report of a Phase II Bond Release Inspection. Minrec, Inc. (J.E. Stover & Associates letter of July 12, 2001) submitted a Phase II Bond Release Application (Application). This Phase II Bond Release applies to 47.6 acres disturbed at the Mine 1, Mine 3 and facilities areas, and 15.6 acres of disturbed area at the loadout site. This Division inspection was scheduled for September 11, 2001 in compliance with Rule 3.03.2(2). The Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) on March 28, 1988 approved a Phase I Bond Release. A full and final bond release for a portion of the loadout area, the Diamond A Parcel, was approved on November 23, 1993. Persons that accompanied Byron G. Walker, Environmental Protection Specialist, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) on (for all or a part) of this inspection were Jim Stover, Minrec, Inc.; Henry Austin, Office of Surface Mining; Janet Buck, City of Carbondale; Kent Wellner, US Forest Service; and Daniel Hernandez, Division. The inspection started with an orientation of the inspection at the entrance gate at the Portal 1 area, then visits to the Mine 3 portal and associated area, the Mine 1 portal, facilities, and waste disposal areas, the fan shaft road (Stony Ridge Road), the "new" and Stony Ridge fan shaft sites, the flumes and fan portal on Middle Thompson Creek, and then in the late afternoon, the loadout road and truck dump site, and the conveyor corridor from the truck dump site to the Roaring Fork River. The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the; 1) reclamation operations alleged to have been completed (Rule 3.03.2(2)). Such reclamation operations include the establishment of vegetation which supports the approved postmining land use and which meets the approved success standard for cover (Rules 3.03.1(2)(b), 4,15,8(2) and (3)). Vegetation at the North Thompson Creek Mines was demonstrated to meet applicable criteria for a Phase II Bond release by a vegetation study (PAP Appendix 3-X Phase II and Phase III Bond Release - Revegetation Success Sampling, North Thompson Creek Mines, February 2001) (field sampling was accomplished on July 18 and 19, 2000). Vegetative cover (visually) appeared consistent with the cover information provided in the Phase II Bond Release Application. The approved land use of 43.9 acres of the 47.6 disturbed acres at the Mine 1, Mine 3 and facilities areas is unimproved range (Permit Application Package (PAP) page 4- 95). Of the 43.9 acres, 5.3 acres are a permanent trail (the Stoney Ridge Road). A land use of Developed Water Resources has been approved for 4.1 acres of the 47.6 C-81-025, Page _3_ of _8_ Pages, (date) _2 October 2001_, (initials) ~~~!