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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations <br />made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during <br />the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a complete inspection conducted by Janet Binns of CDMG. The Grassy Gap mine is a <br />reclaimed surface mine. The mine permit and reclamation liability bond have been revoked by DMG. <br />Site maintenance and repairs to Pit 4 road, Pond 4, and Pit 2/3 road were last conducted by DMG in <br />October 1999. The mine site was very dry. <br />Roads: Mine access road along the Grassy Creek valley floor is in fairly good repair and was <br />navigable by 4-wheel drive Jeep. The gate at the access to Routt County road No. 27 was locked, but <br />the landowner has provided the combination to the Division to allow access. Access road to Pit 1 <br />remains inaccessible by vehicle. No efforts have been made to repair this access road, since access by <br />foot or by animal is still possible. Several of the Califomia crossings installed in the access road to <br />pits 2 & 3 remain effective. The lowest crossing (furthest east), has filled in with sediment. Runoff is <br />still being routed off the roadway. Access to Pits 2 & 3 by vehicle is still possible. Pit 4 access road <br />holding up well. Lowest (furthest east) Califomia crossing has silted in. No further head-cutting of [he <br />gully adjacent to the roadway was noticeable. <br />Hydrologic Balance: Pond 4 was holding a small pool of water approx. 2 feet below the spillway. <br />Pond 5 was holding water and discharging slightly. Spoil spring south of Pond 5 was conning very <br />sluggishly. Sheep were clustered azound pond 5. <br />Reve elation: Pits 5 and 6 have been seriously overgrazed since the Division's last inspection on <br />June 26, 2001. The Division estimates that close to one-thousand sheep have been pastured on the <br />mine site. The sheep have appazently concentrated near Pond 5 and heavily grazed Pits 5 & 6 down to <br />approx. I to 1'/: inches grass height remaining . This inspector observed a marked increase in weedy <br />species, Grrndelia sgtrarosa (Curly-cup gumweed) in Pits 5 and 6 over this summer. Due to the <br />dryness of the area this summer, increased erosion was not obvious as a result of the heavy grazing. <br />Sheepherder's trailer and dog were pazked in pit 6. <br />Pit 1 shows sign of having been grazed but to a much lesser extent than pits 5 & 6. Pits 2 & 3 <br />vegetation looked very good. No sign that sheep had been grazing at these two pits. There was no <br />evidence of erosion problems observed at pits 2 & 3. The slopes on the way to Pit 4 show signs of <br />heavy utilization by sheep. Pit 4 shows little sign of grazing and only minimal rills are observed on the <br />steeper slopes. <br />Reclamation Success: The Division is considering vegetation sampling next summer, 2002, to <br />document successful reclamation on this revoked mine site. <br />The Division flew the mine site on September 6, 2001 and collected digital images of the pit areas to <br />document grazing impacts. Images are included in this report. <br />