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Seneca R Mine Phase I bond rele«se, uu. 2 <br />We also discussed inspection oC stn~ctures approved by DRMS for permanent retention to <br />facilitate the post mining land use of rangeland including livestock watering tanks, permanent <br />water impoundments, and roads. Nlr. Karo and Mr. James provided inspection participants with <br />letters from the affected surface landowners (State of Colorado Land Board, Grassy Creek <br />Holding Co. LLC, and Seneca Coal Co.) requesting permanent retention of the above structures. <br />These letters satisfied Stipulation 32 of DRMS Technical Revision 37 (TR-37). <br />Throughout the inspection days (Aug. 7, through 11) we made observations of approximate <br />original contour (aog) restoration, surface water runoff control and surface erosional stability, <br />and retention of permanent structures as we walked all the pm channels. Approximate original <br />contour restoration observed throughout the reclaimed areas closely resembles the pre mining <br />landscape, and blends extremely well into surrounding undisturbed areas. The essential <br />hydrologic functions recreated by the pm channels resembles the pre mining landscape, helps <br />provide stability for sur.`ace water runoff and reclaimed slopes, and facilitates the post mining <br />land use of rangeland. We took slope measurements in several areas along pm channels, <br />reclaimed slopes, and roadways. <br />We began the field inspection mid afternoon on August 7 at the head of pm 6a & 6b, and walked <br />its entire length making the observations noted above. Observations and subsequent stops <br />& observations during the inspection are as follows: <br />Upper pm 6 (6a & 6b} has an open sink hole on the west facing slope approximately 40 feet <br />below the cattle gate on the retained road. This sink hole is noted on the annual rill & gully <br />survey and needs to be backfilled. The upper pm 6 main channel above the stock tank should be <br />evaluated for hand repair and/or additional rip rap placement to ensure stability of the east <br />channel bank. We measured a representative slope in the pm 6 channel at the F road crossing at <br />14%. The permittee should monitor the minor rill & gully development in mid to upper pm 6 <br />below the F road on the east side of the channel. The next slope measurement in pm 6 was below <br />the minor rills at bend in channel at 9%. The channel appears stable between the bend noted <br />above and the entrance road. Slope measured in pm 6 channel in the lower reach above the <br />entrance road at 16%. This concluded the inspecfion for August 7. <br />We begatr the inspectior, August 8 with Mr. Boulay and Mrs. Brown walking all of pm 4, and <br />Mr. Boulay's inspection report will reflect those observations. I joined them and we continued <br />the inspection beginning at pm 1, upper Grassy Creek. We measured the channel slope in upper <br />Grassy Creek at 3%. Below here and below the rip rap reach there was some ditch maintenance <br />where wet material was cast to the north side of the channel. This material should be seeded <br />and/or graded and seeded. We took the f road to stock tank t33, the stock tank and spillway are <br />stable. The spoil spring below the spillway was not flowing at all that we could observe. PM 18, <br />19, and 3 that drain into t33 are stable as are the surrounding slopes. PM 5 was inspected and is <br />stable. We inspected pm 23 above the Pecoco pond. There is a small settlement crack that has <br />reformed after previous maintenance grading that requires hand maintenance. The pm 2 <br />vegetated channel appears stable. <br />