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(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID #: nn_t994_nt t <br />INSPECTION DATE: Mny t~, Anne INSPECTOR=S INITIALS: A IW <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This was a full financial and performance warranty release request inspection conducted by Tony Waldron of <br />DMG along with Brian Johnson of NRCS. The operator was contacted but was did not attend the inspection. <br />The site is located approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Limon, Colorado. The pit was situated along the south <br />bank flood plain alluvial terrace of Big Sandy Creek. <br />This pit was inspected on April 20, 2004 for a full financial warranty release request. The operator was not <br />present during that inspection and unfortunately an adjacent area similar in topographic relief and physical <br />layout was mistakenly reviewed for the release. The vegetation in that area was reflective of the seed mix <br />contained in the approved application and the topography and site layout matched the mining and <br />reclamation maps included in the application. Unfortunately, the actual disturbed area is approximately 1 /8 <br />mile further west and over a small rise so that it was not clearly visible during the first inspection. Since the <br />vegetation present on the non-disturbed area matched the approved seed mix and the layout was similar, it <br />was mistakenly believed to have been the reclaimed area. <br />Fortunately, Brian Williams of the Natural Resource Conservation Service also conducted a site inspection for <br />the local Soil Conservation District. Being more familiar with the site, Mr. Williams went to the correct location <br />and observed reclamation quite different from those observations made during the first DMG inspection. As a <br />result of his inspection and ensuing letter from the SCD, another site inspection was scheduled. Following are <br />the observations made during that inspection. <br />Reclamation was completed in 2002, however, vegetation has been slow to establish. Furthermore, the <br />vegetation that is present is not reflective of the approved seed mix. The vegetation that is present appears to <br />consist of a pastureland type mix with smooth brome, some sort of wheat grass(s) and alfalfa or clover. The <br />approved seed mix calls for a native dryland mix consisting of little bluestem, switchgrass, sand bluestem, <br />sideoats grama and prairie sandreed. The backfilled slope along the south side of the permit area is nearly <br />devoid of any established vegetation and the more level bottom area contains patchy establishment. One <br />problem that may be associated with the poor establishment is the fact that cattle are allowed into this area to <br />graze. Grazing should be restricted on newly seeded areas for at least 2 years and possibly longer, depending <br />on the progress of vegetative establishment. <br />The fact that establishment is so poor is being cited as a problem on page three of this report along with <br />corrective actions. Besides re-seeding the site, one of the abatement measures is going to be to submit a <br />technical revision to the application requesting a change to the seed mix. This change will reflect the fact that <br />the bottom area was seeded with a different mix than what was originally approved along with a copy of that <br />mix. However, this seed mix shall not be used on the backfilled slope along the south side of the permit area. <br />The mix that was used on the bottom is simply not suitable for this area and the native mix should be used there. <br />If a revision is not requested, the area should be completely plowed under and re-seeded with the approved <br />mix. If the revision is requested and approved, the bottom area still will need to be inter-seeded and restricted <br />from grazing until the area is better established. <br />The site was nicely re-grading and no erosion features were observed. There is a small stockpile of gravel type <br />material in the southwest corner of the permit area. If the landowner wants this material for his own use a letter <br />indicating such should be submitted to our office. If no letter is received, this material must be removed from <br />the site. <br />This concluded the inspection. Please review page three for problems cited and proposed corrective actions <br />and dates of compliance. <br />