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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 />Fish and Wildlife <br />A pair of sandhill cranes was observed near Sediment Pond 005. Several small groups of <br />elk were observed adjacent to reclaimed areas in various locations. <br />Revegetation <br />Reestablishment of aspen has been a significant issue within Permit Revision 3, currently <br />under review. Approximately 100 acres of aspen forest habitat would be mined through or <br />otherwise disturbed in association with South Mine expansion proposed in the revision. A <br />sequential experimental approach involving transplanting of saplings from areas to be <br />disturbed, drip irrigation for establishment, protective fencing, and deep topsoil replacement <br />has been proposed, and would be conducted with the involvement of the U.S. Forest <br />Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. If approved, it is anticipated that the project <br />would be initiated with the "harvest" of selected saplings in the fall of 2003 for over- <br />wintering in prepared beds, with permanent planting within the prepared study plots in the <br />spring of 2004. <br />Slides and Damage <br />Conditions of the spoil slide in the South Area Pit appear not to have changed since the <br />previous inspections, <br />The slide damaged area that was the focus of NOV CV-2001-002 was observed from the <br />top of the ridge above the slide area. The site was still partially snow covered, which <br />precluded detailed observation, but there did not appear to have been recent movement, <br />8 <br />