2012-06-29_INSPECTION - C1980007 (2)

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June 19, 2012 C -1980- 007 /West Elk Mine JRS RECLAMATION SUCCESS (cont.):- Drill Pad 17 -04 was accessed via a reclaimed road spur off of the Long Draw Saddle Road. The reclaimed road and pad were approximately 1.3 acres of disturbance and were reclaimed in 2004. The reclaimed road was steep but well vegetated and stable. There were mountain shrubs volunteering in along the edges of the road, including oak brush, snowberry and serviceberry. Dominant grass and forb species included western wheatgrass, mountain brome and yarrow. The reclaimed 17 -04 drill pad was very well vegetated and stable. Dominant grass and forb species included western wheatgrass, mountain brome and yarrow. Shrubs, including oak brush and serviceberry, were volunteering on the pad. There was no erosion noted on either the road or the pad and no noxious weeds were seen. Overall, the reclamation on the road spur and drill pad 17 -04 was excellent. - Drill Pad 17 -05 was also accessed via a reclaimed road spur off of the Long Draw Saddle Road approximately 1,000 feet north of the road to drill pad 17 -04. The reclaimed road and pad were approximately 0.7 acres of disturbance and were reclaimed in 2004. The reclaimed road was fairly steep but well vegetated and stable. There were some mountain shrubs volunteering in along the edges of the road, including chokecherry, snowberry and serviceberry. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass, mountain brome and fescue. The reclaimed 17 -05 drill pad was very well vegetated and stable. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass and mountain brome. Shrubs, including snowberry and serviceberry, were volunteering on the entire pad. There was no erosion noted on either the road or the pad and no noxious weeds were seen. Overall, the reclamation on the road spur and drill pad 17 -05 was very good. - Drill Pad 17 -06 was adjacent to and accessed off of the Long Draw Saddle Road. The reclaimed pad was approximately 0.5 acres of disturbance and was reclaimed in 2004. The pad was very well vegetated and stable and no erosional features were noted. There was good shrub encroachment on the north end of the pad, including serviceberry and snowberry. Dominant grass species included mountain brome and western wheatgrass. Overall, the reclamation on drill pad 17 -06 was very good. - Drill Pad 16 -05 was adjacent to and accessed off of the Long Draw Saddle Road approximately 1,500 feet north of drill pad 17 -06. The reclaimed pad was approximately 0.5 acres of disturbance and was reclaimed in 2004. The pad was very well vegetated and stable and no erosional features were noted. There was some shrub encroachment on the edges of the pad, including serviceberry and snowberry. Dominant grass species included mountain brome and western wheatgrass. Overall, the reclamation on drill pad 16 -05 was very good. - Drill pad 16 -04 was accessed from a short road spur off of the main Long Draw Saddle Road. The reclaimed road and pad were approximately 1.0 acres of disturbance and were reclaimed in 2004. The reclaimed road was fairly steep but well vegetated and stable. There were some mountain shrubs volunteering in along the edges and some parts of the center of the road, including currant, snowberry and wood's rose. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass, mountain brome and Kentucky blue grass. The reclaimed 16 -04 drill pad was very well vegetated and stable. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass and mountain brome and Kentucky blue grass. Shrubs, including currant, snowberry and wood's rose, were volunteering on the entire pad. There was no erosion noted on either the road or the pad and no noxious weeds were seen. Overall, the reclamation on the road spur and drill pad 16 -04 was very good. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 12 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 4 of 31