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During the July 20, 2009 inspection, small patches of noxious species (Canada thistle, <br />perennial pepperweed, scotch thistle, and houndstounge) were noted. The Division requested <br />Chevron Mining, Inc. to conduct weed spraying operations on the weed patches noted during <br />the inspection. <br />A follow -up inspection was conducted on August 24, 2009 to check weed management work on <br />areas noted by the Division on the initial inspection. The sites noted appeared to have been <br />sprayed by the time the second inspection was conducted. This observation was confirmed by a <br />map submitted by the permittee to the Division on September 12, 2009, which delineated the <br />areas addressed by the weed chemical applicator. <br />The Support Facilities Area bond release block makes up 258 acres of the SL -11 bond release <br />area. This area consists of the roads and culverts within the lands requested for release. These <br />roads include the North Road, Skyline Drive, West Ridge Pond Road, Center Ridge Pond <br />Road, Lower Moffat Area Pond Road, and roads associated with permanent ponds. All roads <br />within the Support Facilities Area land requested for release have been approved for <br />permanent retention. There are no Phase II or Phase III revegetation requirements for these <br />258 acres. <br />Topsoil <br />Topsoil was required to be replaced in the topsoiled Moffat Area and the Topsoiled West <br />Ridge Area to an average depth of 9 inches. The Moffat Area average actual topsoil <br />replacement depth was 9 inches. The topsoiled areas of the West Ridge Area averaged actual <br />topsoil replacement depth of from 9 to 11 inches. Topsoil depth verification was conducted <br />during monthly inspections as documented in DRMS inspection reports dated November 16, <br />1995, July 22, 1996, and September 19, 1997. <br />There is no material replacement depth requirement for the areas within the Moffat Area and the <br />West Ridge Area that were reclaimed with a substitute soil. There is no material replacement <br />depth requirement for the Support Facilities Area. <br />Cover <br />Vegetative cover was sampled during 2005 for the Moffat and West Ridge bond release <br />areas. The 2005 Topsoiled Rangeland Standard for cover for topsoiled areas of the Moffat <br />Area and the West Ridge Area exceed the herbaceous cover standards was 24.1 %. The West <br />Ridge topsoiled area produced a mean herbaceous cover of 55.1% and the Moffat topsoiled <br />area produced a mean herbaceous cover of 47.3 %. <br />The Substitute Soils Rangeland Standard for cover for the non - topsoiled areas of the West <br />Ridge Area and Moffat Area is a technical standard of 47.00% (Appendix 2.4 -13 of the <br />DRMS Permit). Results of vegetation sampling in 2005 found that the non - topsoiled areas <br />displayed a mean vegetation cover of 41.6 %. Though the value of 41.6% is less than the <br />technical standard of 47.00 %, it is statistically acceptable under Section 4.15.11(2)(b). <br />Edna Mine Page 15 April 12, 2013 <br />Phase II. and III Bond Release <br />