2009-12-16_REPORT - C1981019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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conversations with Kurtis Blunt, Colowyo ordered and used the newly approved mix on their 2009 reclamation. Please include the new seed mix in the 2009 Annual Reclamation report and the associated seed tags for those areas that were revegetated. 9. Colowyo conducted quarterly monitoring of the West Pit and East Taylor permanent fills as required during the 2008 reporting year. The West Pit Fill was inspected on 31 March 2008, 30 June 2008, 16 September 2008 and 14 October 2008. The West Pit Fill showed minor settling and movement of less than 0.1 feet during the monitoring period. The East Taylor Fill was inspected on 5 February 2008, 30 June 2008, 16 September 2008 and 8 December 2008. The East Taylor Fill was the active disposal area for the South Taylor Pit box-cut material during 2008. Quarterly fill monitoring for the Streeter and Section 16 Fills was discontinued in the third quarter 2006 following the approval of Technical Revision 64 (approved on 17 October 2006). No quarterly fill monitoring was conducted at the West Taylor Fill since it was not constructed during the 2008 reporting year. The West Taylor Fill will need to be inspected on a quarterly basis when construction begins. 10. Colowyo drilled 19 exploration holes in the South Taylor Pit box-cut area and the area of the East Taylor and West Taylor fills during the 2008 reporting year. These exploration holes were approved with Minor Revision 93 (approved on 18 December 2007). MR-93 granted the approval for the drilling of up to 24 exploration holes in the above listed areas. All of these holes are being mined through so they were not sealed in accordance with the approved plan in the permit and no abandonment reports will be submitted to the Division. 11. Exhibit 9A contains an extensive revegetation monitoring report for the Colowyo Mine. The report stated that there was no two or four year growth to sample in 2008 (as required by the Colowyo permit). The only reclamation blocks that were sampled were in growing years seven or greater. The reclamation blocks that were sampled were EP038 (4.1 acres), EP047 (85.6 acres), S16Y12 (which is 12- year growth at reclamation blocks S 16009 and S 16010 - 19.8 acres), S 16Y 13, 14 and 15 (which is 13, 14 and 15-year growth at reclamation blocks S 16002, S16003, S16005, S16006 and S16008 - 163.7 acres), WP009 (0.9 acres), WP010 (5.7 acres) and WPO11 (1.7 acres). Based on the data shown, all of these areas, with the exception of WP010, have good cover and diversity at this point. Three of the areas do have a problem with cheatgrass. These areas are EP038 (26.2%), WP009 (22.6%) and WP010 (70.5%). In section 3.0 of the report, conclusions and recommendations, the consultant recommends applying Plateau or Oust herbicide to treat the cheatgrass problem in reclamation block WP010. The Division agrees with this recommendation and would extend the recommendation to the other reclamation blocks noted above (EP038 and WP009). This treatment would be in addition to the areas noted for treatment in the East Pit in the Division's monthly inspection reports. Colowyo will need to treat all areas with cheatgrass problems as soon as possible. Additionally, the Division recommends