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June 19, 2012 C -1980- 007 /West Elk Mine JRS <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS (cont.): - Drill pad 23 -03b was accessed from a short road spur off of the main <br />reclaimed West Flat Iron East Bench Road. The reclaimed road and pad were approximately 0.5 acres of <br />disturbance and were reclaimed in 2006. The reclaimed road was well vegetated and stable. There were some <br />mountain shrubs volunteering in along the edges of the road, including oak brush. Dominant grass species <br />included western wheatgrass and mountain brome. The reclaimed 23 -03b drill pad was very well vegetated and <br />stable. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass and mountain brome. Shrubs, including serviceberry, <br />snowberry and oak brush, were volunteering on the entire pad. There was a small patch of Canada thistle on the <br />drill pad. This thistle will need to be sprayed and monitored. There was no erosion noted on either the road or the <br />pad. Overall, the reclamation on the road spur and drill pad 23 -03b was very good. <br />- Drill pad 22 -01, 22 -02a and 22 -02b (one large drill pad with three MDW's) was accessed from a short road spur <br />off of the main reclaimed West Flat Iron East Bench Road. The reclaimed road and pad were approximately 0.6 <br />acres of disturbance and were reclaimed in 2006. The reclaimed road was rocky (which was similar to the <br />undisturbed area along the ridgeline) but was well vegetated and stable. There were no shrubs volunteering in <br />along the road spur. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass and mountain brome. The reclaimed <br />22 -01, 22 -02a and 22 -02b drill pad was rocky (similar to the undisturbed areas along the ridgeline) and was well <br />vegetated and stable. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass and mountain brome. As with the road <br />spur, there was no real shrub encroachment on the drill pad. There were scattered Canada thistle plants on the drill <br />pad. This thistle will need to be sprayed and monitored. There was no erosion noted on either the road or the pad. <br />Overall, the reclamation on the road spur and drill pad 22 -01, 22 -02a and 22 -02b was good. <br />- Drill pad 23HG2E35XC was accessed from a short road spur off of the main reclaimed West Flat Iron East <br />Bench Road. The reclaimed road and pad were approximately 0.7 acres of disturbance and were reclaimed in <br />2006. The reclaimed road was well vegetated and stable. There were some mountain shrubs volunteering in along <br />the edges of the road, including oak brush. Dominant grass species included western wheatgrass and mountain <br />brome. The reclaimed 23HG2E35XC drill pad was very well vegetated and stable. Dominant grass species also <br />included western wheatgrass and mountain brome. Shrubs, including serviceberry, snowberry and oak brush, were <br />volunteering on the edges of the pad. There was Canada thistle and hound's tongue on the drill pad. These weeds <br />will need to be sprayed and monitored. There was no erosion noted on either the road or the pad. Overall, the <br />reclamation on the road spur and drill pad 23HG2E35XC was very good. <br />- Drill pad 23HG2E37XC and 23HG2E38XC (both holes on the same pad) was observed from drill pad <br />23HG2E35XC. . This pad and its associated road were approximately 0.4 acres of disturbance and were <br />reclaimed in 2006. The areas appeared to be well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. <br />- Drill pad 24 -01, 24 -02 and 24 -03 (all three holes on the same pad) was also observed from drill pad <br />23HG2E35XC. This pad was approximately 1.1 acres of disturbance and was reclaimed in 2006. The pad <br />appeared to be well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. <br />- The drill hole B pad at the thermal event area was accessed via a very short road spur off of the Jumbo Mountain <br />Road. The pad and road spur were approximately 0.5 acres of disturbance and were reclaimed in 2000. The <br />reclaimed drill pad was very well vegetated and stable. Dominant grass species included blue bunch wheatgrass <br />and mountain brome. Shrubs, including serviceberry and oak brush, were volunteering on the entire pad. There <br />was some hound's tongue on the drill pad, especially at the entrance to the pad. This hound's tongue will need to <br />be sprayed and monitored. There was no erosion noted on either the road or the pad. Overall, the reclamation on <br />the road spur and drill pad B was very good. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 12 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br />Page 6 of 31 <br />