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July 23, 2013 C-1981-012/New Elk Mine LDS <br /> should all be cleared to ensure that they continue to function. As noted in the inspection report of <br /> April 29, 2013,the C16 system of culverts is not an effective design. The system is due to be replaced;the <br /> re-design will require a technical revision. <br /> • An unidentified culvert outlets at the outlet of C 16; it was not clear where the inlet is. The culvert should <br /> be identified or removed. <br /> • The ditch south of the raw coal stockpile area(D22)was ill-defined; culvert C17B does not exist; C17A <br /> was clear,but partially backed up with water;the downstream section of D22 had filled in somewhat, <br /> preventing C17A from draining; C17 had accumulated sediment—it is very long and may be difficult to <br /> clean; C19 had accumulated sediment; C32 was clear. This system should be corrected on map 13 <br /> when it is redrawn. D22 should be graded, and C17 and C19 should be flushed of accumulated <br /> sediment. Since the cleaning of C19 was an item that was identified in the inspection report of April <br /> 29,2013, and is not the subject of a permitting action,the Division finds that this is a violation for <br /> failure to maintain culverts in accordance with the approved design. This is discussed further in the <br /> ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS section of this report. <br /> • Pond 6 had not yet been lined.No problems were observed and there was plenty of freeboard. <br /> • Pond 7 was holding water,but not discharging, since the primary spillway gate valve was shut. The <br /> embankments and spillways were in good order. Although the level of the pond was above the height of <br /> the inlet to the primary spillway, Mr Thompson had found that water samples exceeded the Total <br /> Suspended Solids standard for the NPDES permit. Mr Thompson was waiting for the delivery of a <br /> flocculent that had been ordered;he planned to re-circulate the water in the pond,treating it with the <br /> flocculent,before testing again, and hopefully discharging. He expected to be able to discharge the pond <br /> before August 2, 2013. <br /> • Culvert C20 was clear,but backed up with water due to the high level of pond 7. <br /> • The berm at the eastern end of the SAE south of pond 7 was in good shape, and the silt fence was <br /> performing well. The boundary of this SAE does not match that shown on map 13. The boundary should <br /> be corrected when the map is re-drawn. <br /> • The clean water ditch south of the SAE had been re-cut and was well defined between culvert C48 and the <br /> concrete buttressed "railroad culverts". <br /> • The surface water scheme around the silos and the Bates portals is the subject of a re-design,which will <br /> be handled as part of TR68. Culvert C59 will be an important component of the design; its inlet is east of <br /> the silos and its outlet is into ditch D24A. The long-term plan is to build a concrete wall against the clean <br /> coal stockpile,to aid ditch maintenance. Steps have been taken to avoid the risk of offsite impacts while <br /> the revision is in progress and west of the silos a low spot had been filled in and a drainage ditch cut <br /> which had greatly improved conditions on the ground. <br /> • Culvert C31 was good; drop inlet 3 could be cleaned up,but was clearly functional; C61 was partially <br /> blocked at the outlet;the ditch below was partially filled in; C 12A was good; D23 was good. C61 and the <br /> ditch below its outlet should be cleared. <br /> • As previously noted in the inspection report of April 29, 2013, an unidentified culvert outlets into drop <br /> inlet 3. The culvert should be identified or removed. <br /> • Culvert C11 was completely obscured at the inlet; C12 was clear at the inlet. CI should be cleared. <br /> • Drop inlet 1 was functional,but is mis-located on map 13; in fact it is at the junction of C12 and C33. The <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br /> Page 9 of 29 <br />