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