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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. This was a complete inspection conducted by Janet Binns of CDMG. The mine has been reclaimed with no facilities remaining on site. Subsequently no company personnel are on site. The permit area is fenced and has a locked gate. No domestic animal grazing is conducted on the reclaimed area. Mr. Leo Montoya, the surface landowner, stopped by during the inspection. He related concerns about the drought that the Trinidad area has been experiencing, and reported that the permit area had received about 1 inch of light rain the previous weekend, 6/15/96. Records: Records were checked at the Las Animas County courthouse, County Planning office, on June 19, 1996. The courthouse was closed when the inspector left the mine site on June 18th, so the inspection was continued on the 19th with the records check. DMG Availability of Records form is included with this report. Records appear up to date with no problems noted. The insurance document is scheduled to expire on July 3, 1996. The operator needs to renew the insurance policy and provide the Division and Las Animas county records with an updated Certificate of Insurance prior to the expiration. Hydrologic Balance: In spite of reported rain 4 days prior to this inspection, the mine site is dry. The pond is dry with dense growth of annual weeds in the bottom of the pond, primarily Kochia scooaria, Bromus tectorum, and Helianthus annuus. Pond inslope has a fair vegetative cover with a fair amount of Western wheatgrass (Aoropyron smithiil. Pond crest and pond outslope remain sparsely vegetated and dominated by annuals and weedy species; Feild bindweed (Convolvulus arvensisl, Scotch thistle (Onooordum acanthiuml, Redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium), Japanese bromegrass (Bromus iaoonicusl, and Tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissuimuml. Some perennial species, scarlet guava (Guava coccinea), spreading fleabane IEriaeron nudiflorus) and Tumblegrass (Schedonnardus oaniculatusl, were noted on the embankment as well. Topsoil and Oil Storage SAE's both exhibit good cover. The topsoil SAE was heavily dominated by perennial ryegrass (Lolium perennel, Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inerme) and Japanese bromegrass. Some volunteer wheat, prickly poppy, ragweed, and tumble mustard was noted as well. The Northwest portion of the topsoil SAE is rather bare and is dominated by annuals and weedy species. No erosion features were observed in the SAE. In the center portion of the Phase I Pit reclaimed area, the swale area does not appear to be down cutting further. Actions taken by the operator to direct runoff away from this swale appear to be effective. Engleville Gulch surface water monitoring station showed no measurable flow in Engleville Gulch. Of note, holes in monitoring station begin at 5" above the surface of the drainage floor. Flow of a minimum of 5" would be required to flow through the drainage before registering in the monitoring station. Revegetation: In spite of dry spring conditions vegetation on the reclaimed areas looks good. Considerable diversity persists. Contour furrows have begun filling in. Additional rill or gully formation was not evident. Areas seeded in 1994 are still dominated by annuals and wheat cover crop.