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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement acfion. Backfill and Gradin Backfilled areas appeared to be stable, and no problems were noted. Rills noted in the vicinity of permanent channels on the slopes of the reclaimed RSRDA Soil Borrow Area had been properly stabilized, and minor grading and berm construction was completed to direct upland runoff into the channels. Processing Waste The section of the steep "B" segment of the RSRDA upper diversion ditch that was altered by the September storm runoff had been properly repaired to restore the design cross- section. The rill erosion adjacent to the ditch that occurred at the same time has not yet been repaired. The rill should be stabilized by loose straw check or other appropriate measures as indicated in the September 26 inspection report. Fish and Wildlife Two of the feral horses previously relocated by BLM have returned to the mine vicinity. "Lone Mare" and her foal were observed on the North Portal reclamation area. The horses will need to be relocated again, perhaps to some other designated wild horse range. Revegetation Germination ahd initial growth of seeded grasses and scattered four-wing saltbush shrub seedlings was observed along the conveyor corridor that was seeded in July. Seedlings appeared to be closely associated with areas where mulch was still iri place and had not been blown off; effective remnant mulch ground coverage appeared to be 50% to 60°k. On CRDA-1, fall green-up of grasses seeded in 2002 was apparent on the top and slopes of the pile. Cool season species including various wheatgrasses and squirrel-tail appear to dominate the grass component at present, but the two seeded warm season grasses (galleta and alkali sacaton) are also present in the stand. Shrub establishment on most areas of the 2002 CRDA-1 seeding is excellent, with good representation by both four wing saltbush and shadscale, and lesser representation by greasewood. On CRDA-2, grasses on most areas remain dormant, probably due to the drier predominant exposures. On the south facing slopes seeded in April 2002, the same suite of grasses and shrubs as noted on CRDA-1 appears to be present, but fourwing saltbush appears to comprise a higher percentage of the shrub component than on CRDA-1. The north facing slopes of CRDA-2 support a diverse stand of shrubs and grasses., Tlie road corridor revegetated in November 2002 supports an excellent first year stand of shrubs and half shrubs, including four wing and shadscale saltbush, greasewood, winterfat, and forage kochia.