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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 />resultant delay of the lst cut harvest, the Division's recommendation is that sampling of 1P <br />reclamation areas and reference area for bond release demonstration be delayed this year to <br />allow for vegetative growth and development on the irrigated lands, and to conform with the <br />requirement that sampling be conducted immediately prior to is+ cut harvest of the reclaimed <br />fields. <br />Irrigated Pasture Reclamation Parcels <br />Two IP reclaimed parcels scheduled for Phase III bond release sampling in 2010 were walked. <br />Both parcels are owned by Burbridge. They are located east of 2700 Road, and extend north <br />from 51h street, roughly 3/4 of the distance to BB road. The western parcel is 44.1 acres, and has <br />not been previously sampled for Phase III release. The eastern parcel is 20.5 acres, and was <br />initially sampled for Phase III release in 2009. Both parcels have previously been approved for <br />Phase II bond release. On the western parcel, vegetation is primarily mixed brome and alfalfa, <br />with production lower than normal for the date (Photo 9), due to the delayed initiation of <br />irrigation. Alfalfa height varied from 7-14 inches over most of the parcel, with grass height up to <br />16 inches in some areas. The side-roll sprinkler operating in the southern portion of the field had <br />not yet reached the south end of the field, and a swath of ground 250 to 300 yards wide that <br />had not yet been irrigated this year was very dry, with grass and alfalfa plants only 6" tall and <br />exhibiting drought stress. <br />The 20.5 acre parcel immediately to the east (Photo 10) appeared to be more productive than <br />the larger parcel, although the dominant species were the same, and irrigation application and <br />timing was roughly consistent. Brome was approximately 15" high and alfalfa 10", in the belt <br />that had not yet been irrigated; in areas further north that had been irrigated, brome was up to <br />17" high and alfalfa up to 12". The difference in growth was likely due to the effect of cattle <br />grazing. Chris Stoats, the contract farmer for WFC, indicated that the western parcel had been <br />grazed over the winter, and the cattle were not moved off until early May. <br />Soil Sampling and Observations <br />Grab samples of exposed Lift "B" soil and "Bench 1 " overburden were taken from several <br />locations in advance of the pit. Sample #I was taken from an approximate 2 foot channel <br />sample from the cut face of the pink colored Lift "B" soil, that had been exposed by excavation <br />(Photo 11). The location was near the south end of the pit, on the Morgan property. The sample <br />was taken from near the base of the exposed face. Lift "B" appeared to be over 10' thick in this <br />location. A lens of competent sandstone was present in the upper portion of Lift "B", and a <br />windrow of excavated Lift B material along the crest of the cut face contained a large number <br />of sandstone fragments (Photo 12). As operations advance, zones of competent rock within the <br />"A" or "B" lift soils are to be segregated from the soil material during salvage operations, and <br />disposed of In the pit dump. The operator indicated that such segregation and disposal of <br />competent rock lenses is standard procedure, but in this location it did not occur. <br />Sample #2 was taken from the surface of the exposed tan colored Bench 1 material, <br />approximately 40 yards north of the south end of the disturbed area, on the Morgan property. <br />New Horizon Mine C-1981.008 02- and 04-Jun-2010 <br />-5-