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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br /> Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br /> during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br /> and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br /> This was a Partial Inspection of the Hamilton Mine conducted by Marcia Talvitie and Sandy <br /> Brown of the Colorado DRMS. No representative of the operator was present during the <br /> inspection. <br /> The inspection occurred on Tuesday, 14 April 2009 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Weather conditions <br /> were overcast and cool. Mining Areas 1 and 3 were traversed on foot, for the purpose of <br /> evaluating revegetation success and variability. <br /> Phase I bond release was granted for the Hamilton Mine in September 1994 for successful <br /> completion of backfilling, regrading and drainage control in accordance with the approved <br /> reclamation plan. In 1995, 92.5 acres were seeded. In October 1997, MR-07 approved <br /> augmentation seeding for that fall with Indian rice grass, needle-and-thread grass, and blue <br /> grama. <br /> Signs and Markers <br /> • Both reclaimed areas (Mining Areas 1 and 3) continue to be fenced off to prohibit access by <br /> grazing cattle. Surface disturbance markers were observed along the eastern side of Mining <br /> Area 1, on the hillside above the drainage that separates this area from Mining Area 3. <br /> Topsoil <br /> • Topsoil stockpiles are identified by appropriate signage, and protected from erosion by wind <br /> and water with suitable vegetative cover. <br /> Fish & Wildlife <br /> • Mule deer tracks were prevalent throughout the reclaimed areas, and a small herd was seen <br /> racing along the southern side of Mining Area 1. <br /> • One jack rabbit and one cottontail rabbit were also sighted during the inspection. <br /> Revegetation <br /> The DRMS permit for the Hamilton Mine includes reference areas for two communities: <br /> sagebrush rangeland and grassland. <br /> Species encountered during the inspection included: <br /> • Needle-and-thread grass (Stipa comata) <br /> • Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) <br /> • Indian rice grass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) <br /> • Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) <br /> • Globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) <br /> • Prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) <br /> • Cheat grass (Anisantha tectorum) <br /> • Stork's bill <br /> • Wyoming big sage brush (Artemisia tridentata) <br /> • Four-wing saltbush <br /> • Rubber rabbit brush <br /> Hamilton Mine C-1991-078 14-Apr-2009 <br /> -1- <br />