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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. acres of disturbance (3.4 acres of No. 1 Mine Water Treatment, 0.3 acres added to include Pond P-9, and 0.3 acre for the pipeline between Mine 3 and the Long Pond of the water treatment facility). Thus the vegetation cover criteria applies to 38.2 acres of the 47.6 acres disturbed (see North Thompson Creek Mines Phase II bond Release drawing name 2000 ARR, Drawing DMG I.D. No. C-81-025 dated 7/12/01), These areas are also identified on the North Thompson Creek Mines Land Use Map D- 3-2 and tabulated on page 4-ix of the PAP. During the inspection, vegetation on the reclaimed disturbed areas at the mine site, portals, and the "new" and Stony Ridge fan shaft sites, and the Middle Thompson Creek fan portal site appeared to support the approved land use of unimproved range. Visual estimates collaborate the information of the February 2001 vegetation study. No areas of deficient cover were noted. Vegetation over the reclaimed "new" fan shaft site (on the North Thompson Creek side of Stony Ridge) was exceptionally lush. Invasion of scrub oak and shrubs was observed on the upper reaches of the Portal 3 reclaimed areas. Vegetative cover on the Stony Ridge road/trail and the Stony Ridge fan shaft portal area appeared to be more dense than that observed and reported in the inspection report of September 22, 1999. No weed infestations were observed, but a few Canadian thistles appear about the sites. Those at the upper end of the Portal 3 area had been sprayed. There are 15.6 acres of disturbed area at the loadout site. All but 1.8 acres of these 15,6 are occupied by an approved permanent paved road and pad and associated features. Also, atwo-track dirt road has been approved as a permanent feature across 0.7 acres of the 1.8 acres. Thus the vegetation cover criteria apply fully to only the 0.5-acre slope below the paved truck dump pad and to 0.6 acres across the lower river terrace adjacent to the Roaring Fork River. The approved land use for the 0.5 and 0.6 acre parcels is pastureland (PAP pages 4-iv and 100). Vegetation appeared to be well established on the slope below the paved truck dump pad. A few scattered bushes have become established. A small area of bare cobble and gravel rocks blends in well with similar areas of adjacent undisturbed slope. Except for the two-track dirt road, vegetation of the 0.7-acre area of conveyor corridor occupied by the approved dirt road appeared similar to vegetation of undisturbed bordering areas. This area showed signs of recent irrigation. The steep slope from this terrace to the lower river terrace was overgrown by high vegetation and brush. The lower river terrace was under flood irrigation at the time of the inspection. Lush grass cover of the corridor was indistinguishable from adjacent, undisturbed areas. C-87-025, Page _4_ of _$_ Pages, (date) _2 October 2001_, (initials)