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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. General Comments This was a partial inspection of the Munger Canyon Mine, conducted by Dan Mathews of the DMG Grand Junction Field Office. Mine Manager Walter Whitledge was contacted at the beginning and the conclusion of the inspection on May 19, but he did not accompany during the field inspection. Weather was clear and warm and ground conditions were dry both days of inspection (Loma Loadout on 5117 and mine site on 5119). The inspection on 5/19 was limited to the light use road associated with an emergency drill site location in the adjacent McClane Canyon Mine permit area, drilled in December 2005. The road segment within the Munger permit area forks off the portal access road, crosses Munger Creek, and runs along the North Fork of Munger Creek for approximately'/~ mile, up to the McClane Canyon Mine permit boundary. The Munger section of road was reclaimed in April 2006. Please refer to the McClane Canyon Mine inspection report dated May 23, 2006, for comments on the reclaimed road segment within the McClane permit area. Suooort Facilities The lower section of the light use road within the Munger permit area follows an old two track road along the North Fork of Munger Creek. The road along the lower segment is located primarily outside of the channel, but crosses the channel in several locations. Approximately 200 yards northeast of the 4~' crossing of the North Fork, the road crosses a tributary side channel that enters the North Fork from the west (the 2 side channel crossed by the road). At this point the canyon begins to narrow, with junipers becoming more prevalent along the channel. This location appears to be close to the point where the road passes into the McClane Canyon permit area. In general, the reclamation grading looks quite good. Road reclamation was conducted primarily with a track hoe; slopes blend well into adjacent terrain, surtaces were properly roughened to prepare a seedbed, stream fords were properly eliminated and channel segments restored at approximate uniform grade to tie into undisturbed channel segments above and below. Rock and woody debris were properly pulled back across the reclaimed road, to further minimize the visual impact of the disturbance and facilitate stabilization and vegetation establishment. It was evident that seeding had been performed in most areas. Soit was dry along the length of the reclaimed road, and there was no germination to date from the April seeding. April and May have been very dry. There were several areas where the noxious weed whitetop has sprouted along and adjacent to the reclaimed road, and will need to be sprayed to limit spread along the disturbance. Specific areas of note include the following: • At the intersection of the reclaimed light use road and the Munger portal access road, there was a whitetop weed patch present that did not show evidence of treatment, and will need to be sprayed. A number of other whitetop patches were observed at various locations along the length of the reclaimed road in the Munger permit area, and these patches will need to be sprayed as well, • Along the initial segment of the reclaimed road between the portal access road and the initial crossing of the North Fork of Munger Creek, seed was not evident on the soil surface, and seeding appears to be warranted.