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No large bare areas were found. Weeds were rare on the areas reclaimed in 2006 (the majority of the <br /> site), with only a few thistle. <br /> Slides and Damage <br /> A gully near the center of the North Pit reclaimed slope needs repair. The gully is approximately 1- <br /> foot deep and extends down the slope for a distance of more than 50 feet. <br /> Reclamation Success <br /> Observations made during this inspection support a finding that in the Equipment Storage Area the <br /> operator has met the requirements for Phase I bond release for equipment storage. Observations made <br /> during this inspection also support a finding that the operator has met the requirements for Phase II <br /> bond release throughout the bond release area, with the exception of the following items: <br /> 1. Topsoil stockpile 7 (southeast of Pond 2). Leaving a topsoil stockpile as a permanent <br /> feature on the site would require a Technical Revision to the permit application that <br /> demonstrates: a)the stockpiled topsoil is not needed for reclamation and b)the stockpile <br /> meets approximate original contour. <br /> 2. The diversion ditch that extends approximately 500 feet along the eastern and southern edge <br /> of the Equipment Storage Area. <br /> 3. The collection ditch that extends approximately 500 feet along the east side of the paved <br /> haul road, southwest of Topsoil Stockpile#7. <br /> 4. The central part of the North Pit where a gully has formed(see preceding discussion of <br /> Slides and Damage). <br /> With the exceptions of items 1 through 4, above, the operator has established vegetation in the bond <br /> release area that appears it would support the approved postmining residential land use. Although <br /> these vegetated areas appear ready for residential use, based on their reclamation and the existing <br /> roads, no facilities or activities were found on the site that are specific to residential use (for example, <br /> home construction, residential utilities, a domestic water supply well, or a home septic treatment <br /> system). Rule 3.02.3(2) requires that bond liability continue until the permittee demonstrates <br /> development of residential land use has substantially commenced and is likely to be achieved. Based <br /> on the absence of field evidence of development of residential land use,the observations made during <br /> this inspection do not support a finding that the operator has met the requirements for Phase III bond <br /> release in the bond release area. <br /> 6 <br />