_INSPECTION - C1981038 (29) - Laserfiche WebLink

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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. appear to be thriving in most locations. There are some isolated patches of prickly lettuce, an annual weed. • In 2008, a large patch of yellow star thistle was noted on the south edge of the slope directly above the structure for Pond W-2. Delta County has undertaken the eradication efforts of this Colorado A-List weed. Approximately 10 YST plants were observed in that location during this inspection (Figure 3). • A set of ATV tracks skirts the northern edge of the reclaimed slope, crosses above Pond W-1, drops into Pond W-2 and climbs out at the impoundment. These tracks are likely associated with the County's weed control efforts (Figure 4). R.O.M. /Timber Storage • This area was seeded in the fall of 2008. Grasses appear to have taken hold in the first year of growth (Figure 5). Sunflowers were plentiful in some zones, but there were no significant noxious weeds noted. Slides & Damage • No slides or damage were observed at the West Mine or at the Timber Storage Area. • The East Mine was not inspected. Reclamation Success Well Field • It appeared that the area surrounding the water tank had been recently occupied by cattle. • A well casing, which had sustained damage (Figure 6),was marked with an orange stake. R.O.M. /Timber Storage • The reclaimed surface was roughened using the bucket of a track-mounted excavator. This approach seems to be having great success - moisture tends to be retained longer, encouraging the establishment of vegetation; and concentrated runoff is prevented, reducing or eliminating erosion. • An excellent job was done of tying in the reclaimed surface with the surrounding undisturbed land (Figure 7). Loadout Facility • For at least the past two years, a long line of railroad cars has been stored on the spur that runs through the loadout facility and highway coal storage area. No cars were present at the time of this inspection Figures 8 and 9). • Empty steel drums and scrap steel continue to be stockpiled on either side of the tracks adjacent to the sedimentation pond (Figure 10). • Miscellaneous materials, as noted during the August inspection, continue to be stored on the upper levels of the loadout facility. Bowie No. 1 Mine C-1981-038 27-Oct-2009 -2.