_INSPECTION - C1991078 ‎(18)‎

• Permit No: C1991078
• IBM Index Class Name: INSPECTION
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• Inspection Date: 4/14/2009
• Email Name: MLT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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