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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. This was a complete inspection conducted by Janet Binns of CDMG. Sandra White of RAG- Empire Corp. provided access to the records and represented the operator. The mine is in Temporary Cessation. No active mining activity is occurring on the mine site. The 5 portals have been backfilled while the SA portal area remains un-graded. Mr. Pat King of RAG-EC was on the site conducting weed control. Mr. King accompanied the inspector on the Feld portion of the inspection. Records: Records were checked at the mine office. Records list accompanies this report. First Quarter 2003 DMG Inspection report was not readily available at the Empire RAG office. First Quarter 2003 Waste Pile, sediment pond and Discharge Monitoring reports have not been filed at the RAG-EC mine office. The operator has previously submitted these documents [o the Division, so the Division confirms that the monitoring has occurred. A copy of these first quarter 2003 reports need to be filed at the mine location as well. Please file these records on site as soon as possible. The mine insurance document expires on June 30, 2003. Please assure that the insurance policy remains in effect, and please provide proof of policy renewal. Roads: Roads remain in good condition with no problems noted on with [he roadways. Hydrologic Balance: Empire pumps activate pumping underground mine water out of the mine at the North Angle 7 location based upon water elevation within the mine. The pump was not pumping at the time of the inspection. No. 5 Mine was actively discharging at the time of the inspection. Discharge measured 7'/d' on measuring [ape on the discharge flume. Discharge water was clear. A small amount of water was also spilling out of storage tank located adjacent to the No. 5 portal area. This water was infiltrating back into the ground surrounding the tank and was not pooling nor running off into drainages. SP-1 was discharging clear water, measured 1 '/o" on tape at V-notch weir. Pond SA-P 1 was holding a small pool of water. Mosquitos were plentiful near this pond. No concerns were noted with this pond. SH-P 1 and SH-P2 were dry. Slopes had good vegetative cover. Pond 9P2 was holding water but was not discharging to Pond 9P3. Pond 9P3 was not discharging on staff gauge. Ponds 5-P1, S-P3, 9P1, 9P4, 9P5, 9P7, 9P8, and HRP A & B were all dry and well vegetated. Pond 9A-P1 on the Williams Fork area was holding water, embankments well vegetated and no weeds noted near this pond. No structural problems were observed on any of the ponds. Ditches throughout mine site appear to be functional. Revegetation: Knapweed and Whitetop were noted throughout the mine site. An infestation of knapweed was observed by the HR ponds. Weed control measures need to be taken on the knapweed as soon as possible. Mr. King noted all locations of weed infestations and had equipment preparing to spray weed patches. Notable locations of concern were knapweed at "Old Shop Area" boneyard, and whitetop patches on SH-P2 topsoil pile. Knapweed was observed along roadway to pond 9P3. Impoundment 9-P 1 was infested with whitetop, Knapweed and Houndstongue. Other small locations of Whitetop were observed throughout mine site. Most patches believed to be whitetop on the west side of [he Williams Fork River proved to be Perennial Pepperweed and do not need to be controlled. Knapweed is present around the No 5 Mine borehole. Infestation appear to be reducing in areal extent but continue to need weed management to continue to control these noxious species. The Williams Fork Pit area was inspected. Vegetation is very good, with visual dominance of Wheatgrnsses, and wildrye. No weeds were observed in the Williams Fork Pit reclaimed area. Vegetation sampling for [he Pasture reference area should be conducted in the near future to resolve Stipulation No. 10.