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• <br />• <br />3.0 RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES IN 2008 <br />During 2009, reclamation activities at the Pitch site focused on additional grading and <br />seeding of the cover on the Tie Camp Creek Disposal Cell. Noxious weed control <br />(Canadian Thistle) was limited in 2009 due to the frequency of rainstorms, but will <br />continue in future years. All work was conducted in accordance with applicable <br />conditions in the Radioactive Materials License (RML) and the Pitch Reclamation <br />Project Procedures Manual. <br />3.1 Constructed Wetlands Area and Adjacent Slope <br />Reclamation related activities in 2009 consisted of improvements to the constructed <br />wetlands area. The wetland area is near the former site of the Radium Treatment <br />Plant (RTP) which was backfilled and recontoured in 2001, with grading and initial <br />revegetation in 2002. Reclamation activities included the steep embankment behind <br />the former RTP site, where the area was graded to reduce the slope and prevent <br />sloughing. Reclamation in the area has consisted of recontouring to facilitate <br />improved sedimentation control and to stabilize the slope adjacent to and down <br />gradient from the site. Activities have included construction of small dikes in the <br />drainage to allow the creation of small sedimentation basins, followed by the <br />placement of timber slash in the drainage to retard flow velocity, and to trap sediment <br />forming a wetlands type condition. <br />Since 2002, stabilization measures have included planting of 1,100 lodgepole pines, <br />and 200 spruce trees on the contoured area and planting of 500 lodgepole pine and <br />200 Douglas fir seedlings on the slope opposite the constructed wetlands area. In <br />2006 and 2007, a significant number of mortalities were observed among trees <br />planted during previous seasons on the slope opposite the constructed wetlands <br />area. The dead trees were replaced with approximately 400 new lodgepole <br />seedlings. The 2006 work included placement of several large rocks and rock <br />material across the lower end of the constructed wetlands area to further enhance <br />sediment control and prevent previously placed tree slash from washing to the trash <br />racks during thunderstorm events. In 2007, transplanting of cattails was undertaken <br />on an experimental basis. The heavy snowfall in the winter of 2008/2009 provided <br />needed protection for the cattails and many survived through the past two years. The <br />success of the experiment will continue to be monitored in 2010. <br />Pitch Reclamation Project <br />Colorado Mined Land <br />Reclamation Board <br />2009 Annual <br />Reclamation Report <br />5