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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 /> no evidence of rill and gully formation, slides or of slope instability. I inspected the surface <br /> and perimeter of the long slope covering the former crushing and screening bench, which <br /> was graded and seeded in 2008, and observed no signs of erosional or slope instability. On <br /> the contrary, the roughening technique utilized appears to be extremely efficient at <br /> controlling erosion and preventing the concentration of surface runoff. <br /> • Placement of backfill against the natural sandstone face located above the former crushing <br /> and screening bench was accomplished in a manner that is both pleasing to the eye and <br /> natural in appearance (Figure 7). <br /> Support Facilities <br /> • The two uppermost benches at the Loadout Facility continue to be used for storage of <br /> miscellaneous equipment and materials (Figure 8). Many of the items are clearly innocuous <br /> in nature: conveyors; fan assembly; dump truck sanding bed; cast iron pipe; etc. However, <br /> the level of disorganization of the site has continued to increase with time. <br /> • There are certain materials stored at the Loadout that may require some attention in order to <br /> ensure that there are no adverse impact to water, soil or air: a pair of oil tanks on an oily tray <br /> (Figure 9); a group of 11 plastic buckets and a partially filled unmarked plastic tote, (Figure <br /> 10); and unmarked sacks of material that have been torn open by the elements. Drillers <br /> under contract to BRL have been using the Loadout Facility as a staging area. Basil Bear <br /> said he would inspect the site and see that necessary issues are addressed, including basic <br /> housekeeping. <br /> Topsoil <br /> • All topsoil stored at the East Mine had been redistributed as required for reclamation. The <br /> footprints of the topsoil and soil stockpiles had been regraded, surfaces had been <br /> roughened, and boulders scattered across the surface (Figure 11). <br /> Revegetation <br /> • Basil Bear said he has been actively spraying weeds at the West Mine this summer. During <br /> the field inspection, the results of weed spraying activities were clearly visible at the West <br /> Mine. <br /> • A sizable patch of Russian knapweed was observed at the East Mine surrounding the outlet to <br /> Culvert "N". <br /> • A very large tamarisk tree has grown up on the downstream side of the bin wall structure at <br /> Pond 3, and is apparently thriving on the damp soils that prevail when water is impounded. <br /> • Reclaimed areas at the East Mine that were hydro-seeded in 2008 exhibited good <br /> vegetative cover, overall (Figure 12). 2009 seems to have been a good year for the growth <br /> of wheat grasses in the area. Mustards and other annual weeds dominated certain zones, <br /> which is not unusual for the first growing season. <br /> Slides & Damage <br /> No indication of slides or damage was observed during this inspection. <br /> Bowie No. 1 Mine C-1981-038 19-21 Aug-2009 <br />