DRC-2009-004304 - 0901a0688014317a

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GARY R. HERBERT
Governor
GREGORY S. BELL
Lieutenant Governor
State of Utah
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Division of Oil, Gas & Mining
MICHAEL R. STYLER
Executive Direcior
JOHN R. BAZA
Division Director
Inspection Report
Minerals Regulatory Prograni
September 9, 2009
Reviewed : ^C^
Mine Name: Lisbon Mine
Operator Name: Rio Algom
Inspector(s): Paul Baker
Other Participants: Billy Ray
Mine Status: Reclaimed
Permit number: M/037/0001
Inspection Date: August 26,
2009
Time: 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 80s
Evaluated
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Elements of Inspection
1. Permits, Revisions, Transfer, Bonds, Permit Fees
2. Public Safety (shafts, adits, trash, signs, highwalls)
3. Protection of Drainages / Erosion Control
4. Deleterious Material
5. Roads (maintenance, surfacing, dust control, safety)
6. Concurrent Reclamation
7. Backfilling/Grading (trenches, pits, roads, highwalls,
shafts, dril! holes)
8. Soils
9. Revegetation
10. Other
Purpose of Inspection:
The purpose ofthe inspection was to look at revegetation around the reclaimed shaft and office/shop areas
and decide whether remedial action was needed.
Inspection Summary:
1. Permits, Revisions, Transfer, Bonds, Permit Fees
The majority ofthe site is a reclaimed uranium mill and tailings pond and is under the regulatory
jurisdiction of the Utah Division of Radiation Control. The Division regulates the sites ofthe shafts and
the office and shop areas.
Although the Division has previously classified this site as a large mine, and although the permit number
would suggest it is a large mine, the disturbed area being regulated by the Division is less than five acres.
The operator has paid the permit fee for a small mine.
The reclamation surety is in an escrow account that was established through an action by the Board of
Oil, Gas and Mining. An attomey working for the operator has been preparing to file a Request for
Agency Action where the operator would establish a new bond with the Division to cover revegetation
costs. The Board would theoretically release the money held in the escrow account. The money in the
escrow account was submitted as surety for full reclamation ofthe shafts, shop, and office.
9. Revegetation
Dominant vegetation around the vent shaft is halogeton, but there are a lot of rabbitbrush seedlings.
1594 West North Temple, Suite 1210, PO Box 145801, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5801
telephone [phone] • facsimile [phone] . TTY [phone] . www.osm.ulali.eov
Inspection Date: August 26, 2009; Report Date: September 9, 2009
Page 2 of3
M/037/0001
The main shaft/building area has a lot of kochia with some areas of Russian thistle and halogeton. Parts
ofthe area, especially the west half of the mound over the shaft, are dominated by foxtail barley and
crested wheatgrass.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
1 recommend that no revegetation work be done on the vent shaft. The surrounding area is dominated by
rabbitbrush, and 1 believe rabbitbrush will come to dominate the reclaimed area in a few years.
Most ofthe main shaft/building area should be re-seeded. There are portions ofthe area, such as the west
half of the mound over the main shaft, that should not be re-disturbed. Seed could be drilled, or the
operator could disc or harrow the area then immediately seed. I recommend using a spike-tooth harrow
pulled behind an ATY.
There are many species that could be used in the seed mix, but I suggest using a simple combination of
crested wheatgrass and fourwing saltbush.
The Division does not regulate the tailings ponds, but 1 couldn't help but notice a large amount of musk
thistle growing on the ponds. Musk thistle is officially designated as a noxious weed. I have never
noticed musk thistle in this area before. It is now too late in the season to control the thistle, but the
operator—or whoever has control ofthe land—should plan to spray the thistle with a broadleaf herbicide
in the spring.
Inspector's Signature
PBB
cc: Billy Ray, Rio Algom
Division of Radiation Control
O:\M037-SanJuan\M037000l-LisbonMine_RioAIgom\inspections\insp-08262009.doc
Photo 1. Kochia and Russian thistle on the main shaft
area.
Photo 2. The west half of the main shaft. Note the crested
wheatgrass and foxtail barley.
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Photo 3. This photo shows some of the musk thistle on one
ofthe tailings ponds. The thistle can be seen starting on
the right/center part ofthe picture and continuing to the
left.
Photo 4. A rabbitbrush seedling (difficult to see) in the
disturbed area at the vent shaft.
1594 West North Temple, Suite 1210, PO Box 145801, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5801
telephone [phone] . facsimile [phone] • TTY [phone] . -mvw.oem.iitah.eov
MUSK THISTLE
(Carduus nutans)
Description: Musk thistle or nodding thistle, is a
member ofthe Asteraceae or sunflower family. Musk
thistle can grow up to 6 feet tall. Upright stems ofthe
plant are winged and can be single or multiple and
highly branched. Rosette leaves ofthe plant are elliptic
to lanceolate and pinnately lobed with each lobe ending
in a spine. Leaf surfaces are green, glabrous to densely
pubescent with margins ranging from white to purple in
color. Cauline leaves, of or attached to the stem, are
similar to the rosette leaves, but are smaller, simple,
altemate, and decurrent. Flower heads are terminal,
solitary, 1 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter, and usually bent
over. Flowers are typically deep rose, violet, or purple,
or occasionally white in color and have very
characteristic brown bracts that resemble a pine cone.
Musk thistle seeds are shiny, yellowish-brown in color,
3/16 inches long with a plume of white hair-like fibers.
There are two sub-species ofthe plant that differ in
flower size and pubescence in North Dakota.
Musk thistle is considered a noxious weed under North
Dakota state law, thus landowners are required to
eradicate or control the spread ofthe plant.
Musk thistle
Plant Images:
Rosette
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Flower
Stem
Distribution and Habitat: Musk thistle is native to Eurasia. The plant occurs primarily on pastures and
rangeland, but can be found on disturbed sites, waste areas, stream banks, grain fields, along roadsides
and in wooded bottoms. Musk thistle occurs in temperate regions and does not have specific climatic
requirements, except that a cool period of vernalization is required for the plant to flower. Musk thistle
can be found primarily on soils with high sand content and may be restricted by a low tolerance of
extremes in soil water content, nutrient deficient, or acidic soils.
Life History/Ecology: Musk thistle is a herbaceous taprooted biennial, spring annual, or occasionally a
winter annual. The plant reproduces solely from seed. Seeds usually germinate in the fall or spring and
develop into rosettes fairly quickly. Plants overwinter in the rosette stage until early March when the
plant bolts. Musk thistle begins to flower in May or early June and may continue through August. Each
plant is capable of producing approximately 10,000 seeds and can average 1,200 to 1,500 seeds per
flower head. Seeds of the plant may remain viable for at least ten years.
History of Introduction: Musk thistle is native to southem Europe and westem Asia. The plant was
first introduced in North America in the mid-1800s as an ornamental. Musk thistle has now been
reported in all Canadian provinces except Prince Edward Island and in more than 40 states within the
United States. Initially, musk thistle was reported largely in the northeast comer of North Dakota.
Currently, the plant is found in 27 counties ofthe state which include Kidder, Towner, Pembina,
McLean, Ward, Walsh, Ramsey, Benson, Bowman, Cavailier, Dickey, Golden Valley, Grand Forks,
Mountrail, Nelson, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Slope, Stark, Steele, Bottineau, Eddy, Billings, Mercer,
Renville, and Burke Counties.
Effects of Invasion: Musk thistle is as an aggressive species that can form extremely dense stands.
Infestations ofthe plant have the ability to reduce productivity of pasture and rangeland by suppressing
growth of desirable plant species and preventing livestock from grazing plants in the surrounding
vicinity.
Control:
Management objectives for successftil musk thistle control should be to prevent seed production. Seeds
of musk thistle can remain viable in the soil for at least ten years, therefore infestations should be
monitored to prevent re-establishment. Preventing or reducing seed production and dispersal can
decrease the spread of the plant. In order to prevent or reduce musk thistle infestations, preferred
habitats ofthe plant should be maintained with healthy stands of desirable vegetation, since musk thistle
seedlings can not tolerate intense competition. The seedling and rosette growth stages ofthe plant are
the best times to implement control measures. Control methods should be combined into an integrated
management system for the best long-term control ofthe plant. Management techniques selected are
dependent upon a specific site and will be determined by land use objectives, extent of musk thistle
infestations, desired plant community, and effectiveness and limitations of available control measures.
Mechanical - Repeated hand pulling and mowing has been used to control musk thistle. However, these
methods should be conducted before the reproductive growth stages ofthe plant to prevent seed
production. Hand pulling can be effective if plants are severed 2 to 4 inches below the soil surface to
prevent resprouting from the root crown. A single mowing will not control musk thistle infestations
because infestations generally consist of plants of variable ages in natural populations. Therefore,
mowing may need to be repeated several times throughout the growing season to effectively reduce seed
production. Musk thistle infestations may be increased or decreased by fire. In tallgrass prairie sites in
Kansas and South Dakota, prescribed bums encouraged the growth of native plants and discouraged the
growth of musk thistle. However, buming has not been an effective means to control musk thistle
because populations can colonize recently bumed sites where competition is not vigorous. Further
research is needed to determine the effects of prescribed bums for musk thistle control.
Chemical - A number of herbicides are available for musk thistle control. Clopyralid, clopyralid plus
triclopyr, picloram, dicamba, 2,4-D, glyphosate, and metsulfuron will control the plant. Herbicides
should be applied in late fall or early spring when thistles are in the seedling to rosette stage. Musk
thistle only reproduces by seed, therefore herbicides applied prior to flowering will eventually eradicate
infestations.
Contact your local county extension agent for recommended use rates, locations, and timing.
Biological - Several insects have been released as biocontrol agents for musk thistle. Two weevils have
been released for control ofthe plant. The thistlehead-feeding weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus, has been
released in several westem states and controls musk thistle by limiting seed production. The rosette
weevil, Trichosirocalus horridus, was introduced in the United States in 1974 . Larvae ofthe insect
feed on growing points of the rosette and developing shoots, which decreases plant vigor and flowering.
In 1990, Cheilosa corydon, was released on musk thistle. Larvae ofthe insect burrow into shoots,
causing the shoots to break or dry prematurely.
Cattle generally will not graze musk thistle and sheep will only consume the plant during the rosette
growth stage. However, some studies suggest that cattle, domestic sheep and goats may consume musk
thistle flower and seedheads. There is a concem regarding whether or not cattle and domestic goats may
easily spread musk thistle seeds therefore, grazing as a control measure is not recommended.
References:
Beck, K. G.. 1999. Biennial Thistles, p. 145-161 In R. L. Sheley and J. K. Petroff Biology and
Management of Noxious Rangeland Weeds. Corvallis, OR; Oregon State University Press.
Beck, K. G., R. G. Wilson, and M. A. Henson. 1990. The Effects of Selected Herbicides on Musk
Thistle {Carduus nutans) Viable Achene Production. Weed Technol. 4:482-486.
Dewey, S. A.. 1991. Weedy Thistles ofthe Westem United States, p. 247-253 /« L. F. James, J. O.
Evans, M. H. Ralphs, and R. D. Child. Noxious Range Weeds. Boulder, C0:Westview Press.
Desrochers, A. M., J. F. Bain, and S. I. Warwick. 1988. The biology of Canadian weeds. 89. Carduus
nutans L. and Carduus acanthoides L. Can. J. Plant Sei. 68:1053-1068.
Heidel, B. 1998. Element stewardship abstract (ESA): Carduus nutans. In: Weeds on the web: The
Nature Conservancy wildland invasive species program, [Onhne]. Available:
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/cardnut.html (Febmary 2005).
Popay, A. I., R. W. Medd. 1990. The biology of Australian weeds 21. Carduus nutans L. Spp nutans.
Plant Protection Quarterly. 5(1):3-13.
Smith, L. M. and L. T. Kok. 1984. Dispersal of musk thistle (Car JWM.? «Mto«5) Seeds. Weed Sei.
32:120-125.
Zouhar, K. 2002. Carduus nutans. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U. S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory
(Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ (Febmary 2005).
Musk thistle and flower photographs courtesy of North Dakota State University, NDSU Extension
Service.
Rosette photograph courtesy ofthe University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Stem photograph courtesy of Dan Tenaglia, www.missouriplants.com and www.invasive.org.
Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans L.) Page 2 of 5
DESCRIPTION
Musk thistle is a large biennial, growing to 6 feet (1.8 m.) tall. Its
flowerheads are rose-purple, up to two and one-half inches (7 cm.) wide and are mostly solitary and nodding at the tips
of the branches. At the base of each flowerhead are numerous, spine-tipped involucral bracts, one-eighth to three-
eighths of an inch (2-8 mm) broad, that are curved away from the heads. The leaves are of two types. One type forms
basal rosettes during the first year, which overwinter, staying green, and killing any plants undemeath. These are
deeply-lobed leaves, growing up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 4 inches (10 cm.) wide, and possessing a prominent,
nearly white midrib. The upright flowering stalk grows during the second year, producing smaller, very spiny leaves. •
Stems are commonly winged with spiny leaf tissue.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Musk thisfle resembles several other thistles that are found in Missouri. Curly thistle or welted thistle (Carduus
crispus), the most closely related Missouri thistle, can be distinguished by its smaller flowerheads 0.5 - 1.0 in. (1.5 -
2.5 cm broad), narrower involucral bracts one-eighth of an inch (2mm, or less broad), and by its clustered flowerheads
that are ascending rather than nodding.
Other Missouri thistles, including bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), field thistle (Cirsium discolor), tall thistle (Cirsium
altissimum), and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), can be distinguished from musk thistle by the fine brisfles that are
attached to the seeds. Musk thistle has unbranched bristles whereas the thistles in the genus Cirsium have feathery or
plume-hke bristles. The thistles in the genus Cirsium also tend to have smaller flower heads than does musk thistle.
Canada thistle (see page 27), also a noxious weed in Missouri, occurs in thick colonies because it is a perennial with
creeping rootstocks. Biennial species like musk thistle die after flowering and therefore do not usually occur in dense
colonies.
Musk thistle should be accurately identified before attempting any control measures. If identification of the species is
in doubt, the plant's identity should be confirmed by a knowledgeable individual and/or by consulting appropriate
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/exotic/vegman/eighteen.htm 9/17/2009
Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans L.) Page 3 of 5
books.
DISTRIBUTION
Musk thistle is a native of Europe that was introduced into the U.S. as early as the 1850's. It has become widely
naturalized in the U.S. and Canada. In this country, it occurs in at least 40 of the mainland states from the East to the
West Coast. Kansas and Nebraska are reported to have the most serious infestations. In Missouri, musk thistle is
widespread and probably occurs in most counties today.
HABITAT
Musk thistle is found in waste ground, old fields, pasture, and along roads and railroads. It has become a major weed
in range and pasture land, a nuisance pest along rights-of-way, and a potential weed in land placed in conservation
reserve programs. It can invade native grasslands, even where existing dense prairie vegetation exists. Glade
communities are also likely areas for establishment of musk thistle, especially those with grazing histories and with
inadequate buffers of natural land.
LIFEHISTORY
Musk thistle is variable in its flowering strategy, acting as a biennial, a winter annual, or an annual. Plants typically
overwinter as rosettes and send up flowering stalks the following spring. Flowering can occur from early June through
October. Seeds mature and can begin dispersing within 7 to 10 days of flowering. As many as 11,000 seeds per plant
may be produced. Most seeds fall near the parent plant and can remain viable for as long as ten years. Musk thistle
infestations are economically important in agricultural systems because they compete with crops for light, space,
nutrients, and water. The plants spiny tissue renders it unsuitable for livestock.
CURRENT STATUS
Musk thisfle has been formally designated a noxious weed by Missouri law. As such, all landowners are required to
control the plant if it is growing on their property. Control is considered to be prevention of seed production. County
prosecuting attomeys are required to notify offending landowners in a prescribed manner before leveeing penalties.
Control Recommendation
Recommended Practices in Natural Communities of High Quality
-Cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical control methods have all been used on musk thistles with varying
degrees of success in different parts ofthe country.
Cultural and Mechanical Methods: Musk thistle favors abandoned fields and overgrazed pastures. Rotationally grazed
or deferred pasture is less susceptible to infestation than heavily grazed pastures. Although some investigators report
thistle populations declined rapidly as natural succession proceeded, others report populations that persisted for twelve
years in an unmanaged area.
Hand-cutting or mowing can provide control if repeated over a period of years. Hand-cutting with a sharpened shovel
should insure that lateral as well as the terminal bud on the root crown are destroyed. A labor-intensive hand chopping
at ground level just before flowering eliminated musk thistle at Konza Prairie, Kansas from a 350-acre pasture. The
plants are apparently less likely to regrow if allowed to bolt before hand chopping the root crown. Mowing should also
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Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans L.) Page 4 of 5
be timed to occur just prior to flowering.
-Biological Controls: Two exotic weevils, the flower head weevil, (Rhinocyllus conicus), and the rosette weevil,
(Trichosirocalus horridus) were purposely introduced from Europe and have become established in Missouri and at
least ten other states. These biological control agents aid in reducing populations ofthe thistle. In areas of Missouri
where the weevils have been present for the longest period of time (1976-1992), an 80-90% reduction in thistle
population has occurred. These weevils are increasing and dispersing naturally. They have also been collected for
recolonization throughout the state. As of 1992, flower head weevils were established and widely distributed in 65
counties, whereas the rosette weevil is presently known from 25 counties. Recent recolonizations of the rosette weevil
(1990-1992) have been made in 13 additional counties. An integrated pest management system has been developed
utilizing knowledge of thistle and weevil life cycles. This program encourages survival of the weevils through a
harmonious use of herbicides and mechanical control methods. Biological control methods are intended to establish a
balance between predator and target species. As a population of thistle is diminished by the weevils, weevil numbers
decline. This allows the thistle to rebound and the weevil numbers to again increase. This scenario of fluctuating thisfle
and weevil populations does not totally eliminate musk thistle. Ifthe thistle is eradicated from a site by herbicide
application or other means, then the predator weevils will also be lost. Then future colonization of the site by musk
thistle will require reintroduction of weevils or other means of treatment.
Two studies have addressed the effect of herbicides on biological control agents. In Montana, the effect of 2,4-D on
Rhbwcyllus conicus varied with weevil density. As larval populations increase, survival decreased. A Virginia study
found that treatment with 2,4-D did not adversely affect either Rhinocyllus conicus or Trichosirocalus horridus.
Recommended Practices on Lands Other Than High-Quality Natural Areas
-Chemical Controls: The effectiveness of chemical control is influenced by the weather and the stage of growth of the
thistle at the time of application. Chemical control of all types is most effective in the rosette stage and least effective
when musk thistle is in flower. By law, herbicides may only be applied according to label directions.
Due to its low cost, 2,4-D ester at 2-4 lb per acre (4.48 kg per half-acre) is the most commonly used herbicide.
Application can be made aerially, with a tractor-mounted sprayer, with a backpack sprayer, or in granular form.
Effectiveness depends on application when temperatures are not too cool and when it is not too dry. This may limit its
use in early spring applications or in fall appUcations in some areas. 2,4-D is most effective when applied 10-14 days
before bolting in the spring. 2,4-D is less effective than picloram or dicamba after plants have bolted.
Dicamba can be used to allow treatment earlier in the spring than 2,4-D. Dicamba atthe rate of I lb per a provided the
same control as 2 lb per acre of 2,4-D in one study. Dicamba at 0.5 lb per acre (0.6 kg per.ha) provided between 90 and
IOO percent control in the year of treatment for three successive years, but residual control in the second and third
years fell to 36% or less. Spring applications of dicamba (.25 lb per acre) in combination with 2,4-D ester (0.5 lb per
acre) gave 97% control by the fall of the same year.
Picloram alone or in combination with either 2,4-D or dicamba gives the best late-season control but is more expensive
and carries more restrictions. These include restrictions on use near groundwater and on the season of use. Reports of
effective use of picloram vary in recommended rates from .27 lb per acre (0.3 kg per half-acre) to 0.5 lb per acre (.56 '
kg per half-acre). The greatest attraction of picloram is that it provides excellent control during the cool, dry autumn
season when neither 2,4-D nor dicamba is as effective, and when non-targeted vegetation is less susceptible. Although
picloram overcomes the effects of weather, it does not fully overcome the effect of growth stage. Control of dense,
even height, bolted plants using picloram in a ropewick applicator was effective, but control was poor when plants
were of varying heights. Concomitant with its greater effectiveness, picloram presents a greater risk of damaging non-
target species. Damage to cool-season grasses was reported in a study using higher concentrations of picloram (1 lb per
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/exotic/vegman/eighteen.htm 9/17/2009
Musk Thistle (Carduus nutuns L.) Page 5 of 5
acre).
Failed or Ineffective Practices
Mowing, brushhogging, and spraying when thistles are in full bloom is ineffective. Cutting the stems does not kill the
plant at this stage. Stems will regrow and still flower and seed. Similarly, if herbicide application does not kill the
plant, which is not too uncommon, regrowth and seeding will occur.
Fire has not been effective as a method for directly controlling musk thistle. It is difficult to generate enough heat to
kill the thistle's root crown and fire-scaiTcd plants can bolt, flower, and fruit.
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