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V. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />Observations from the Bond Release Inspection <br />The initial bond release inspection was conducted in October 2006. The Division <br />inspection report dated October 24, 2006 is incorporated by reference. Issues <br />identified during the field inspection included: <br />• Abandonment of wells LA-218, LA-264, PAW-9 <br />• Sinkhole repair <br />• Distressed vegetation over reclaimed portal <br />• Removal of signs and markers <br />• Soil methane monitors and reclamation <br />Follow-up observations as documented in an August 2007 Division inspection <br />confirmed the abandonment and reclamation of wells LA-264 and PAW-9 in addition to <br />repair of the small sinkhole feature. The applicant tested the area of distressed <br />vegetation over the reclaimed portal for methane in the soil on August 23, 2007. <br />Results of this testing were submitted to the Division in a report received October 18, <br />2007. Methane levels in the soil were at or below ambient levels in the local <br />atmosphere. Signs and markers were removed as documented in a June 2008 Division <br />inspection. <br />Revegetation Success Standards <br />The last seeding on the disturbed area at the Golden Eagle Mine was in 1996 and thus the <br />required ten-year liability period was achieved in 2006, with vegetation sampling beginning <br />in year nine in 2005. Basin Resources, Inc. (BRI) hired Arcadis (formerly Greystone) <br />environmental consultants to measure revegetation success during the summers of 2005 <br />and 2006, the last two years of the revegetation liability period. <br />Vegetation sampling data and analysis were initially included in Section 2 of the September <br />20, 2006 bond release application and subsequently revised (May 22, 2008) as a result of <br />Division review. Appendix A and associated tables, figures, and maps were included. <br />There are two primary vegetation communities that were disturbed and subsequently <br />reclaimed at the Golden Eagle Mine: pastureland in the valley bottoms and rangeland in <br />upland areas. An alluvial valley floor reference area was approved to measure <br />revegetation success in the pastureland and a rangeland reference area was established <br />for the rangeland (grasslands). <br />The revegetation success standards for the pastureland areas are: <br />Cover: Herbaceous cover on the reclaimed areas shall be at least 90% of the <br />cover as determined from the reference area with 90% statistical confidence. <br />0 Production: Herbaceous production on the reclaimed areas shall be at least 90%