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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 />Channel PM-4D will require installation of turf reinforcement mat ("Enkamat") in accordance with approved <br />design specifications. <br />Older reclaimed channels were not extensively examined during this inspection, but on a previous inspection it <br />was noted that a short segment of the 006 Channel upstream from the 006-NE2 confluence required riprap <br />installation. Riprap was recently dumped along the channel in the noted location, but riprap installation had not <br />yet been initiation. Some repairs may be warranted in other channel locations, as typically is the case following <br />snowmelt runoff. <br />To soil <br />Topsoiling was recently initiated on approximately 70 acres of graded spoil in the upper reaches of the 016 <br />watershed, primarily within the Sage Creek/Wolf Creek mine block. Scrapers were actively replacing topsoil in <br />this area during the inspection; approximately Y. to 1 /3 of the 70 acre block appeared to have been completed at <br />the time of the inspection. A water truck was on site and dust was being properly suppressed. Other areas to <br />be topsoiled in 2007 include a small area of the lower 017 watershed in the vicinity of the stock pond to be <br />constructed there, as well as various road reclamation locations. Soil had been temporarily stockpiled in the <br />lower 017 watershed area in preparation for spreading. Several small topsoiled parcels laid down late last fall in <br />the upper 016 watershed were seeded earlier this spring. <br />Use of the remnant topsoil stockpile in the radio repeater/substation area was discussed with the operator. This <br />soil will be used in the immediate vicinity to reclaim the small facility site and in association with road width <br />reduction reclamation. <br />Reveaetation <br />Revegetation success is variable across the site. There are some areas of excellent revegetation, very diverse <br />with significant woody plant density. However, some of the more recently seeded areas, as well as areas that <br />have been subject to repeated disturbance associated with rill and gully or slide repair have significant weed <br />problems. The most pervasive species of concern is Canada thistle. In some areas dense patches of the <br />species have become established. Areas of significant thistle infestation were noted and described in the June <br />inspection report. Control of Canada thistle and other noxious species is a continuing effort at II-W, with <br />spraying conducted spring and fall. Success of control efforts has been variable to date. Easily accessible <br />areas along roadsides and facility sites have received the most attention; weed patches in more remote <br />areas along reclaimed drainages and slopes also require treatment. Many locations are likely accessible <br />by ATV, other locations my need to be accessed by foot or horseback. <br />Fenced shrub/tree planting areas in various areas were observed. Most of the areas have been established <br />withing the last couple of years and it is too early to make assessments regarding success, however, in a couple <br />locations (as noted in previous inspection reports), planting areas have become heavily infested with weedy <br />species and/or grasses, and shrub survival appears to be so low that remedial treatments including control of <br />herbaceous competition (e.g. "Round-up application and tillage) and replanting/reseeding of woody plants will be <br />warranted. Remedial treatments are planned in several of the areas with poor shrub establishment this fall. In <br />various locations, fairly dense stands of big sagebrush several acres in extent have become established from <br />seeding or volunteer, outside of fenced shrub areas. Aspen, cottonwood, and tall shrub species are largely <br />restricted to the fenced areas. There is a dense growth of aspen saplings in the fenced "aspen farm" plot, where <br />mature aspen were pushed down several years ago to stimulate suckering. Operator plans to begin <br />transplanting aspen and chokecherry sprouts from this area to fenced planting areas on the reclamation this fall. <br />Site native transplants should be tagged so as to be easily distinguished from commercially supplied <br />planting stock in future years, to allow comparison of survival and growth between site native and <br />commercially grown planting stock. <br />7 <br />