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(Page 3) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1980-047 <br />INSPECTION DATE 6-5-2007 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS. CBM <br />permanently abandoned and if ExxonMobil still desires to have this area released. <br />Surface Conveyor Disturbance (ISP Area 17C, 5 of 5 acres) -consists of the corridor where the crushed shale conveyor <br />was to be constructed. The site was cleared of vegetation in 1982, but before topsoil was removed, construction at the <br />site ceased. This corridor was seeded shortly thereafter and is currently stable and well vegetated with a diverse <br />mixture of perennial grasses, (orbs and shrubs. Staff recommends release of these 5 acres. <br />Guard Pond Disturbance and Upper Section of Construction Water Pipeline (ISP Area 176, 10 of 10 acres) -consists of <br />an area cleared for a detention pond above the Coarse Ore Valley and the upper section of the construction water <br />pipeline. As stated for area 16B above; ExxonMobil needs to be aware that if the pipeline is to be utilized after release of <br />this area, any break in the pipe that causes a blowout would be considered off-site damage. Any pipe maintenance in <br />this area would require adding that acreage back into the permit prior to the maintenance. Therefore, staff recommends <br />that the pipeline corridor acreage (approximately 1 acre) remain in the permit area unless the pipeline has been <br />permanently abandoned. Please clarify if this pipe is permanently abandoned and if ExxonMobil still desires to have this <br />area released. Staff recommends release of the Guard Pond acreage (approximately 9 acres) as it has been effectively <br />stabilized, per the approved reclamation plan, with a diverse cover of grasses, forbs and shrubs. <br />Switchyard Fill IISP Area 18A, 10 of 19 acres) -consists of 6 acres of north facing 1.5H:1 V rock fill slope and 4 acres <br />of east facing 3H:1 V slopes called the "Crowbar Fill" that have been covered with topsoil and had revegetation tasks <br />completed in 1989. The rock fill slope has benefited from natural invasion of Douglas fir enhancing the stabilization of <br />the rock covered and terraced fill slope. Vegetation establishment on the Crowbar Fill consists of a diverse mix of <br />perennial grasses, forbs and brush. This slope also has benefited from establishment of Douglas fir, either from seed <br />planted in 1989, or from natural invasion. Both fill slopes appear to be stable and have remained that way since 1989. <br />Staff recommends release of the 10 acres of fill slopes in area 18A. <br />South Valley Fill Face IISP Area 18B, 6 of 6 acres) -consists of a 6 acre 2H:1 V fill slope that was originally to be rock <br />faced, but was eventually covered with topsoil and revegetated. The slope is well vegetated with a diverse stand of <br />perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs and appears to have been stable for quite some time with no signs of significant <br />erosion. Staff recommends release of these 6 acres. <br />Off-site Access Roads IISP Areas 3A, 3B, and 3C, 42 of 42 acres) -consists of 14 acres of road surface and safety <br />berms and 28 acres of cut and fill slopes. The actively maintained surfaces and berms meet the post mine land use as <br />specified in the reclamation plan as one of the alternative uses was as a permanent access to the parachute creek area. <br />The side slopes for these sections of road were obviously well vegetated prior to recent disturbance by gas pipeline <br />installation and other oil and gas operations in the area. Disturbances not related to the Colony oil shale operation are <br />not required to be reclaimed by Exxon Mobil under this permit and do not fall under the jurisdiction of this agency. Staff <br />recommends release of the 42 acres in ISP Area 3. <br />On-site Access Roads (ISP Area 4, 13 of 17 acres; Area 5, 40 of 45 acres; Area 8A, 45 of 45 acres; Area 10, 21 of 39 <br />acres; Area 11, 21 of 21 acres; Area 13, 19 of 19 acres; and Area 19 137 of 137 acres) -consists of what adds up to <br />63 acres (not 56 as stated in text) of road surface and safety berms and what adds up to 233 acres (not 195 as stated <br />in text) of cut and fill slopes. The actively maintained surfaces and berms in all these areas meet the specifications of <br />the reclamation plan as one of the alternative post-mining land uses is a permanent access surrounding lands and to <br />other permanent facilities. Staff recommends release of the actively maintained road surface except that portion of Area <br />5 designated as the rubble storage pile and non-potable water storage tank located below the pilot mine rack dump and <br />the portion of Area 10c where the well pump house, well, water horse, gauge station and other miscellaneous equipment <br />are located. Please revise the figures to exclude these areas. <br />The 233 acres of road cut and fill slopes comprising the remainder of the requested on-site access road release area <br />consists of surface lands ranging from flat to vertical. All slopes that have adequate soil materials to support vegetation <br />are well vegetated with the permanent seed mix used elsewhere for reclamation of this permit area. Several areas of <br />slopes are vertical rock or steeply sloped shale cuts where the rock provides the stabilization as vegetation is not <br />practical or possible. These slopes are consistent with the reclamation specifications in the permit. Staff recommends <br />release of the road cut and fill slopes in these areas except that Area 4 and 5 (possibly other areas) have an overhead <br />