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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 />This is a partial inspection conducted by review of digital images of the permit area. The digital <br />images were collected via a digital camera from a light airplane. Digital images were collected on <br />October 1 I, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. by Mr. Harry Ranney of the Division. The images were reviewed on <br />October 17, 2001 by Janet Binns of the Division. <br />The mine site had recently received snow. Snow could be seen in undisturbed vegetated areas. Areas <br />with bare soil or spoil were free of snow cover. Trapper mine is currently mining 5 active pits: A pit, <br />G pit, Z pit, F pit, and D pit. The Ash pit remain active for disposal of flyash from the Tri-state <br />powerplant. <br />TMI has cut erosion control benches into the exposed slopes located east of Pit A. This area has been <br />stripped of topsoil and subsoils are exposed. These "benches" have been cut along the contour and <br />appear to slow runoff down the slopes. Image "Pit A Erosion Benches" shows these features. <br />Vegetation: TMI has been cooperating with DMG on a shrub establishment study. Problems with <br />seed germination in the 2000 seeded plots required re-seeding of the plots in the fall of 2001. <br />Trapper Mining Inc. indicated that they would fence the appropriate treatments once these plots were <br />reseeded. Aerial image "West side of Pit F" shows that fencing has been installed at the research <br />plots. <br />Backfill & Grading: The area immediately south of the Shrub research plots has been regraded. The <br />image looks as if this area has been seeded in 2001 as well. Pit F is progressing to the east. Drill <br />holes in preparation for blasting can be noted to the east of Pit F. <br />Mining in Pit D has progressed to the point that the last several cuts remain between Pit D and Pit E. <br />A dragline in positioned on the remaining ridge between the pits. TMI is mining out the remaining <br />ridge separating these two pits. Backfill and grading to the west of Pit D has been conducted. <br />TMI has oriented the G pit East-West instead ofNorth-South. The initial box cut spoil from this re- <br />orientation has been placed on the north side of the pit. No problems were observed in the aerial <br />images with Pit G or with the box cut spoils. The G Pit image is included in this report as "1 10-1 1- <br />OI,SGPit" <br />TMI has submitted SL-03 for a partial Phase [I bond release on cropland areas located west of the <br />facilities area. The Division has scheduled a bond release inspection on November 7, 2001. <br />