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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 />appear to be warranted in these areas, and should be considered. Spring plowing (early <br />May) to eliminate the current year crop of cheatgrass before it produces seed, followed by <br />seedbed preparation and seeding in early July might be the best approach to allow for <br />perennial germination and growth initiation prior to late fall/early spring cheatgrass <br />germination. <br />Wildlife <br />The small group of horses from the Little Bookcliffs wild horse herd that spent much of the <br />winter and early spring in the vicinity of the Cameo refuse areas and the north portal was <br />driven back into the management area further up Coal Canyon by the BLM in April or early <br />May. However, one mare returned shortly after and apparently foaled in the vicinity. A <br />young stallion subsequently joined the mare and her foal, and they seem to have taken up <br />residence on the recently reclaimed portions of the refuse piles and especially the North <br />Portal reclaimed area. <br />The continued presence of the horses during the growing season could be detrimental to <br />successful establishment of the desired perennial grasses, if they continue to spend much of <br />their time on the newly seeded areas, which they seem to prefer. Efforts should be made <br />to keep the horses off the newly seeded areas until grasses have became fully established. <br />Fencing may be required if other measures are not successful. <br />As a component of the refuse area reclamation conducted in 2002, large rocks were <br />distributed on the reclaimed surface, in part to provide shade and cover for invertebrates, <br />small mammals and reptiles. A lizard was observed near the central portion of the RSRDA <br />reclaimed area during the inspection, which could be an indication that the developing <br />vegetation and rock habitat is already beginning to provide for this use. The lizard was a <br />plateau striped whiptail, which typically burrows beneath surface rock to escape the sun <br />and predators. <br />9 <br />