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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations <br />made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during <br />the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />Partial backfilling of the G-test pit has occurred. The spoil has been plac don the South side of the pit <br />against the highwall in order to aid in stabilization of the highwall.will need to assure highwall <br />stability in this area. ~~ <br />Z pit continues as a scraper operation as well as using truck and shovel and dragline. Drilling for a <br />cast blast was in progress during the inspection. <br />vQ <br />Brushing and~so~ salvage continues in advance of the F-pit. TMI has submitted an MR-193 to <br />adjust the topsoil stripping extent. This MR is currently being reviewed by the Division. <br />D-pit remains open and able to receive ash. Slopes appear to be holding up well. <br />Ash pit continues to be used for ash disposal. <br />Areas around the western waste storage area have been cleaned up, bone-yard material moved, graded, <br />and topsoiled. This area does not appear to have been topsoiled. A portion of an old road west of the <br />waste storage area has been regraded and topsoiled as well. Range drill is parked on site. <br />Topsoil: topsoil stockpiles remain undisturbed, signed, and well vegetated. New topsoil salvage <br />stockpile has been placed at the West Horse pond azea. Topsoil was being laid down on the west side <br />of pit F. Topsoil stripping is progressing on the east side of Pit F. TMI must make sure that stripping <br />on the south facing side of the ridge does not occur until West Pit pond is completed. <br />Z~ <br />ReveReve e~tation: limited interseeding was conducted on the west side of the Oak drainage area. <br />killed the existing vegetation in a 10-acre plot using Roundup, then strip seeding a forb/shrub mixture. <br />The herbicide kill looked effective. Observation of this site did not note seedling emergence. A few <br />seedlings were just emerging, though just germinating and unable to identify as yet. Continue to watch <br />this area to determine successful re-establishment of vegetation. <br />TMI continues to spray herbicide for control of noxious weeds. A weed crew was spraying Tetar on <br />Whitetop throughout the mine. <br />Reclamation success: SLOS was approved by DMG on June 11, 2004. SL-OS approved partial phase I <br />liability release for specific areas backfilled between 1987 and 2002. <br />CSU/DMG shrub study plots were walked both inside the exclosure fence and outside the fence. Very <br />little is seen in the no topsoil plots however Purshia tridentata are present in these plots though very <br />small and few in number. Eight-inch soil depth treatments show greater diversity along with shrub <br />establishment than some of the other treatments. The deepest topsoil thickness shows considerably <br />greater frequency of grasses as well as more robust grass plants. Marked differences were visible <br />between the fenced vs. unfenced treatments with the fenced being considerably more robust. <br />Vegetation sampling of these test plots is planned for July 2004. <br />TMI has scheduled vegetation sampling this week for future phase III bond release application. <br />Page 5 of ~ Pages, (date) 06/24104 . (initialsl ihb <br />