INSPEC26035

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 6/14/2005
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE
Below are comments on the inspection. The cottunents 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 action.
This was a partial inspection conducted by Dan Mathews of the DMG Grand Junction Field
Office. Henry Barbe of Mountain Coal Company and Ryan Taylor of the USFS Paonia
District Office participated in the inspection,
The focus of the inspection was reclamation/revegetation of the Lone Pine Gulch Fan site
and associated facilities, and drill site reclamation in the Thermal Event Area and West Flat
Iron vicinity. Most areas observed had been reclaimed between 2000 and 2004. A number
of the areas had been subject to cattle grazing of varying intensity in the 2004 growing
season. The reclaimed areas observed appeared to be erosionally stable, with no areas of
excessive erosion observed. A couple locations had been closely grazed in 2004. These
sites appeared to exhibit lower cover and production, and in some cases a higher
component of annual (orbs than nearby areas that were not grazed Idue to fencing) or that
had been subject to lower intensity grazing (due to steep stopesl• Ryan Taylor indicated
that the pastures in which the recently reclaimed drill sites are located would be "rested"
(not subject to planned grazing) during the 2005 growing season. This should be of
considerable benefit. Even the apparently more heavily grazed locations have maintained a
relatively high composition of desirable perennial species, and these species would be
expected to make good growth and likely produce seed this year, given the good
winterlspring moisture. The operator has employed a range rider to ensure that cattle do
not concentrate or remain for long periods on recently seeded drill sites, and this should
help to ensure the successful establishment of desirable vegetation cover on the reclaimed
drill sites.
Small patches of noxious weeds, primarily Canada thistle, bull thistle, and other biennial
thistle species occur on some of the sites, and most weed patches had recently been
sprayed. In a few locations, small patches of these species had been missed, and will still
need to be sprayed this spring. Cheatgrass has become established in a few locations, but
so far the sites with cheatgrass still maintain a significant component of perennial species.
Yellow toadflax, a noxious species that apparently had not previously been documented on
the permit area, was noted in two small patches on the reclaimed waste disposal site and
topsoil stockpile site in lone Pine Gulch. These patches will need to be treated, and the
species will need to be included in future weed control efforts.
A reclamation practice that has been implemented on a limited basis to date for road
reclamation and steep slope drill site reclamation involves extensive surface roughening and
scattering of woody debris (slash) over the roughened surface, combined with broadcast
seeding. This appears to be a very effective practice, providing erosion control from the
combination of water retention in the gouges and raindrop interception by woody surface
debris, as well as providing site conditions conducive to vegetation establishment. Slash
may also provide seedlings some physical protection from grazing animals, and may limit
access by cattle to some extent during the early years of establishment.
For reclamation of relatively level areas, a technique that would involve "brush crushing",
with minimal disturbance to topsoil has been attempted on a limited scale by the operator,
with very encouraging results. The shrubs characteristic of the mountain shrub habitats
typically respond with vigorous re-sprouting following top removal, and the technique might