INSPEC31782

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 6/14/2007
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

l11, 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 action.
These latter species occur in relatively small quantities and isolated locations to date, and have been
aggressively controlled. Some fairly extensive patches of whitetop were noted in the vicinity of Stock Pond T-18
on this inspection, and operator was planning to spray promptly.
Seeding had recently been completed this spring on small areas topsoiled late last fall in the 016 watershed,
along the reduced "J" Road, and in rill and gully repair areas.
The annual wheat cover crop seeded with the perennial mix last fall in various locations, including lower slopes
in the 016 and 017 watersheds has established very well, and is providing good erosion protection on steep
topsoiled slopes in those locations.
Fenced shrub/tree planting areas in various areas were observed. Most of the areas have been established
withing the last couple of years and it is too early to make assessments regarding success, however, in a couple
locations (as noted in previous inspection report), planting areas have become heavily infested with weedy
species, and shrub survival appears to be so low that remedial treatments including control of herbaceous
competition and replanting may be warranted. In various locations, fairly dense stands of big sagebrush several
acres in extent have become established from seeding or volunteer, outside of fenced shrub areas. Aspen,
cottonwood, and tall shrub species are largely restricted to the fenced areas. There is a dense growth of aspen
saplings in the fenced "aspen farm" plot, where mature aspen were pushed down several years ago to stimulate
suckering. Operator plans to begin transplanting aspen and chokecherry sprouts from this area to fenced
planting areas on the reclamation this fall.
Fence repairs were noted to be necessary in a couple fenced shrub planting areas. At the smaller of the two
Ridgeline fenced planting areas, the fence was loose and partially pushed down near the southwest corner,
probably by snowdrift, and needs to be repaired. Similar maintenance is warranted along the lower (east side)
fence on the larger Ridgeline fenced planting area (north of the channel).
A heavy infestation of a type of defoliating moth larvae, possibly the western oak looper, is present this year in
the mine vicinity. Large areas of native oakbrush stands have been largely defoliated, and partial defoliation of
aspen and shrubs in planting areas on the mine site was observed. USFS researchers have been spraying to
control the infestation within the aspen test plots.
Slides and Damaoe
The Ridgeline Slide area repaired last year was checked and there has been no additional sliding in the areas
where sliding occurred in 2006 or previous years. The temporary half-pipe installed along the drainage where
the slide occurred had twisted and flipped on its side along the lower end, and there was some erosional scour
along the half pipe as a result. Installation of the permanent channel with turf reinforcement mat as
approved in TR-55 is to be implemented this field season. Riprap energy dissipater at the toe was
partially washed out and will need to be repaired.
A new slide occurred further to the south along the ridgeline this spring, resulting in damage to areas that had
not been approved for disturbance. NOV CV-2007-002 was issued as a result; refer to "NOV CV-2007-002
Abatement, Modification, and Extension" at the beginning of this section.
A number of areas of minor settling cracks and minor slips were observed on recently graded {non-topsoiled)
spoils in upper portions of the 016 watershed, and these locations will require remedial grading prior to
topsoiling.
A more significant landslide also occurred this spring, on newly reclaimed (topsoiled) ground in the lower 016
watershed, lower South Leg Wadge area. The slide impacted a small portion of the new aspen planting area in
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