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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 an Aerial Inspection of the Hamilton Mine conducted by the Colorado DRMS at <br />approximately 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 27 April 2010. Photographs taken during the inspection <br />were reviewed by Marcia Talvitie of the DRMS. <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />• Ponds A and B were both dry at the time of the inspection. <br />Topsoil <br />• The topsoil stockpile for Pond B appears to be stable with respect to erosion. No rills or gullies <br />were observed to have formed. <br />• The northern slope of the Pond B topsoil stockpile appears to be particularly well-vegetated. <br />Fish & Wildlife <br />• Pond B, although dry, and the area immediately surrounding it were heavily criss-crossed by <br />wildlife trails (Photo 1). <br />• Water stored in the pond on a seasonal basis has previously been a valuable resource for <br />wildlife. <br />Revegetation <br />• Tamarisk skeletons are plentiful on the floor of Pond B and across the upstream end of the <br />impounding structure (Photo 1). <br />• Due to the timing of the inspection, photos of reclaimed Mining Area No. 1 reveal an <br />interesting aspect regarding the establishment of woody shrubs. Mountain Big Sagebrush <br />(Artemisia tridentata) was already experiencing new spring growth, giving the plants a <br />darker, more full appearance. The sage is easily contrasted with Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex <br />canescens), which had not yet begun to leaf out and appears light grey in Photo 2. <br />• The approved seed mix for revegetation of the Hamilton Mine includes the Fourwing Saltbush <br />at a rate of 0.5 Ibs/acre. Sagebrush was not included in the seed mix, and has apparently <br />arrived by "natural" means. <br />This concludes the inspection report for the Hamilton Mine. <br />Hamilton Mine C-1991-078 27-Apr-2010