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<br />Uc/5i <br />Trapper Mine, C-81-O10 <br />Bond Release Inspection SL-4 <br />June 4, 2003 <br />8:30 am - 5:45 pm <br />Weather: sunny, dry <br />Representative of mine <br />BLM (Rob Ernst) was invited but was not able to <br />participate. <br />Participants: <br />Janet Binns, Colo DMG <br />Randal Pair, OSM <br />The cropland area at the W end of this release had recently <br />been cut and was being baled. Good growth of alfalfa and <br />wheatgrasses. Crop reference area is representative of the <br />cropland area. We saw numerous antelope on this area. <br />The rangeland area showed a lot of use by elk. <br />Revegetation has less alfalfa, and Basin Wild Rye, siser <br />milkvetch, sheep fescue. Antelope bitterbrush and big sage have <br />been established from seed. In the transplanted shrub clumps, <br />the existing tops had largely died back, but are showing new <br />growth from the root crowns. Shrubs present included <br />serviceberry, chokecherry, big sage, and snowberry. In addition <br />to elk and deer sign, we observed a porcupine, and a salamander <br />in one of the stock tanks. <br />Overall, the revegetation was very well established, <br />showing good cover, good production, and a variety of species. <br />Shrubs have been successful both from seed and from <br />transplanting clumps. <br />In several places, contour diversions have been approved to <br />remain as permanent structures. Since these were formed by <br />cutting into the restored soil layer, the upper slopes of these <br />diversions (4 feet to 5 feet wide) have little or no topsoil; <br />revegetation is sparse and weedy. But these areas were included <br />in the revegetation sampling. <br />Two power lines were observed in the south-central part of <br />the release area. These are no longer in use, but at one time <br />powered the dragline in previous pit locations. These need to <br />be removed prior to finalizing this bond release. We agreed <br />that the few small backhoe holes that will be required to remove <br />the wood poles will probably not constitute a substantial <br />disturbance; but Janet Binns will check this in a future <br />inspection. There is also an active power line (to the F pit?) <br />traversing the east end of this release area. It will be <br />3~~ ~ <br />