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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 complete inspection of the Seneca II-W Mine conducted by Sandy Brown. Dennis Jones <br /> accompanied me on the field inspection. The ponds in the Sage Creek drainage were inspected on September <br /> 23, the main reclaimed mine site was inspected on the 24th and records were checked at the Seneca office <br /> trailer on the 25th. Weather during the inspection was clear and the ground was dry. <br /> The mine site has been mostly reclaimed with few remaining items left to be finalized. The dragline remains on- <br /> site and the road below it has not been narrowed. There is still some work to do in the shop area. During this <br /> inspection, there was maintenance and construction work occurring in the Pond 16 and Pond 17 watersheds. <br /> Roads. <br /> Haul Road G has been narrowed.There were a couple piles of rip rap stockpiled on the road shoulders, <br /> probably for ditch/drainage channel repairs. Road G was in good condition. <br /> The Ridgeline Access road was driven to the light-use road that accesses the southern part of the permit area. <br /> Read K was blocked by slide repairs at Pond 016. All roads were in good condition. <br /> 1-10rologic Balance <br /> The water level in Pond 005 was well below the outlet. Pond 006 was full and discharging. The water level in <br /> Pond 009 was approximately 6 inches below the top of the riser. Pond 015 was discharging. An oil boom at the <br /> outlet had been damaged by some animal. Ponds 16A and 16 were full and discharging. At Pond 017 Dennis <br /> Jones took a weekly water sample. Flow was about 9-10 gpm; ph was 8.45; and conductivity was 1960 umhos. <br /> The lower part of the PM-1 channel below T-25 has recently been reworked. The channel has been lined with <br /> TRM and riprapped at the bottom. Stockpond T-25 had only a small puddle of water in it. <br /> Four runoff control structures or"surge" structures have been constructed in the PM-2A and PM-2B channels <br /> that flow into Pond 016. Two more are under construction in the PM-3 drainage channel. <br /> SCC has dug two trenches perpendicular to the slide above Pond 16. The eastern trench carried a small <br /> amount of water, but the westerly trench was dry. Dennis Jones was commenting that the conductivity of the <br /> water in the first(eastern)trench measured —6570 umhos in June, well above the conductivity generally <br /> associated with spoil springs. <br /> Riprap was stockpiled in several spots along the shoulder of Road G. <br /> Fish and Wildlife <br /> A great-horned owl was observed along the road to Pond 015. While viewing the reclaimed area from the sub- <br /> station, a rattlesnake was observed slithering through the grass. <br /> Revegetation <br /> A delivery of plants was stored in the shop area for transplanting this fall. Species included: narrow leaf <br /> cottonwood, Gambel's oak , coyote willow and serviceberry. Some of the cottonwood and serviceberry were <br /> over 6 feet tall. <br /> Cattle were observed grazing in the Salt Grass Reclaim Pasture and the Seneca Reclaim Top Pasture. <br /> Records <br /> Records were checked at the Seneca office on September 25 and found to be in good order. See attached <br /> checklist. <br /> 3 <br />