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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 complete inspection of the OC#2 Mine conducted by Dan Mathews of CDRMS. The former Colorado Division <br />of Minerals and Geology was recently renamed Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Weather was clear, <br />cool and dry both days. Soils were moist from rains over the past couple of weeks. Some minor fence maintenance as <br />described in the previous report is still warranted. I interseeded the fenced slope portion of the reclaimed area during the <br />inspection with a native grass/sagebrush seedmix (broadcast seeded with a manual rotary seeder). <br />Roads: The remaining permanent road segment was stable, with no rills or signs of recent use. <br />Hydrologic Balance: There was a shallow pool of water in the sediment pond, from recent rains. <br />Revegetation/Reclamation Success: Fence gates were open when I amved at the site, and there was some evidence of <br />recent light grazing by cattle. Summer and early fall rains have resulted in good growth of seeded species. Although there <br />is still a considerable bare ground component, most of the grasses on site appear to have produced seed this growing season. <br />Castleton Ranch sprayed the small patch of Canada thistle earlier in the growing season, and [he treatment appears to have <br />been effective. Repeat spraying maybe warranted in 2007, and the weed patch locations will be checked in the spring. <br />The 2.34 acre fenced slope portion of the reclaimed area was interseeded with a mix consisting of five native grasses and <br />blue flax (13.3 # per acre PLS), plus mountain big sagebrush (0.1 # per acre PLS). The sagebrush seed was bagged <br />separately from the rest of the mix. Approximately 15% of the sagebrush seed was broadcast in 10 small (12' diameter) <br />patches, which were not seeded with the grass mix. The remainder of the sagebrush seed was scattered over [he entire site. <br />The seed was hand raked to scarify the seedbed and provide for seed coverage over a significant portion of the site <br />(particularly in locations with a high percentage of bare soil and rill erosion). A sheet with the seedmix and rates is attached <br />to this report, along with copies of seed tags from 1 acre bags of the grass mix and the mountain big sagebrush. <br />Support Facilities: Castleton Ranch fence crew performed considerable fence maintenance work at the site between May <br />and August 2006. Some additional maintenance is warranted along the north fence, a short distance east of the NW comer. <br />In addition, minor repairs are necessary to the lower gate. It is important that the necessary repairs be completed and that <br />both gates be closed before cattle are turned into adjacent pasture areas next spring. Tom Sanders, Castleton Ranch <br />Manager has been contacted regarding [he need for additional fence maintenance. <br />