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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a partial inspection conducted by Janet Binns of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology. <br />The mine site was dry. Weather was very warm. The mine is a reclaimed Surface Mine. According to <br />Annual Reclamation Reports seeding last occurred in 1998. 2005 will be the Th growing season since <br />the last seeding. <br />Vegetation on Mining Area 1 area is fair. Reclaimed area is visually dominated by Saltbrush (Atriplex <br />canescens), Rabbitbrush (Chysothamnus nauseosus) with occasional sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata), <br />and annual grasses and forbs consisting of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Red stem filaree (Erodium <br />cicutarium), and flixweed (Descurainia Sophia). Though not visually dominant, closer inspection of <br />the vegetation on the reclaimed area show considerable amount of perennial forbs; Scarlet <br />globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), and Broom snakeweed (Guttderrezia sarothrae). Two perennial <br />grass species were present in the understory with good frequency; Needle-and-thread grass (Slips <br />comata) and Blue grams (Boutelua gracilis). Both of these perennial grass species were included in <br />the approved seed mix. Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum) and Russian wildrye (Elymus junceus) were <br />encountered frequently thoughout the reclaimed pit azea as well. <br />Though the ground cover is thin, the vegetation looks to be in fair condition in general similarity to the <br />surrounding landscape. Several patches of Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officiniale) were encountered <br />throughout the reclaimed area. These patches appear limited to several patches 12-15 feet in diameter. <br />Visual observation of undisturbed area to the South of the mine site found the area dominated by <br />Sagebrush, tumble mustard, scarlet globemallow, lots of cheatgrass , broomsnakeweed, needle-and- <br />thread grass, Blue grams and Six-weeks fescue. The undisturbed area has a higher frequency of shrubs <br />but also contains considerable amounts of annual grasses and forbs, and baze ground. <br />Pond A was dry. The embankment is in good condition. Tamarisk (Salt Cedar) in the pond needs to <br />be cut for pond maintenance. Pond B is Dry. Sprouting of green shoots was observed on a number of <br />the Tamarisk. Growth of Tamarisk in pond B and the Siberian elm tree in the emergency spillway <br />potentially may affect the performance of the pond. The Siberian elm tree in the emergency spillway <br />and the Tamarisk in the pond should be cut for pond maintenance. The repairs to the embankment on <br />pond B looked good. The repaired area does not show sign of having been re-seeded. White mustazd- <br />flowered plant in the spillway is pepperweed and not whitetop. <br />The vegetation on the Mining Area 3 (facilities) looked similar to the reclaimed pit area though it <br />contained a higher frequency of Tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum). Two topsoil piles were <br />noted along the road to the Mining area 3. <br />The inspector had notified a landowner, Mr. Dave Andrews, regarding the planned timing of the <br />inspection. The inspector did not meet up with the landowner on site. There was no requirement for <br />landowner or company representative to meet with the inspector on site. <br />3 of 5 WHITE -File YELLOW -Operator PINK -Specialist <br />