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,~J <br />Golden Eagle Mine, pe.2 <br />The earliest seeding /completed reclamation of the lowest lift on the pile occulted during 1991 <br />on primarily the east-northeast facing slope of the pile. Initial-complete seeding after DMG <br />confirmation of 4 feet of soil-rooting media cover on the pile occurred during 1996. Seeding was <br />completed on the soil material borrow area during 1997. The 100-year drainage swales were also <br />fully vegetated-stabilized at this time, and our inspection this date found the drainage areas to be <br />stable and fully functioning as designed, with only minor erosion noted. The only outlet for <br />surface runoff from the pile is at the northeast corner of the pile and remains armored and stable. <br />There were no offsite hydrology impacts noted at the outlet area, nor any other offsite impacts to <br />people, land, or struchires noted during this inspection. <br />Primarily due to successive drought years, some small areas on the south and east facing slopes <br />of the pile have experienced some partial vegetative die back, with some annual weed-wild <br />sunflower replacement. These areas are expected to fully recover, and the wild sunflower is <br />providing feeding habitat for upland birds, particularly the turkey populations on the adjacent <br />Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area. Mr. Gorham continues to coach the permittee with respect <br />to control of noxious weeds on the area, and they do not currently pose any management <br />problems. The vegetative community is approaching and may meet or exceed approved cover <br />and diversity requirements. <br />We noted a small backfill settlement area that has been previously remediated by the permittee. <br />This area is not problematic. <br />Work crews were busy at the site removing-salvaging the railroad rails from the New Elk <br />Loadout downstream through the Golden Eagle Mine permit area, and continuing east. The <br />permittee intends to salvage the rail line all the way to Trinidad. The permittee has also sold the <br />batch weigh-out facility at the New Elk Loadout, and intends to sell or salvage other existing <br />structures at the New Elk site. <br />This concluded our inspection; please address any questions concerning this report to Henry <br />Austin at haustin@osmre.eov or to (303) 844-1400 x1466. <br />