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September 26,2013 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine JRS <br /> Inspection Topic Summary <br /> NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable <br /> N -Air Resource Protection R -Roads <br /> R -Availability of Records N -Reclamation Success <br /> N -Backfill& Grading N -Revegetation <br /> N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence <br /> N -Explosives R - Slides and Other Damage <br /> R -Fish&Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site <br /> R -Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers <br /> N -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br /> N -Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br /> R -Processing Waste N -Topsoil <br /> COMMENTS <br /> This was a complete inspection of the West Elk Mine conducted by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of <br /> Reclamation,Mining and Safety(Division). Kathy Welt and Jessica Loveland,representing Mountain Coal, <br /> accompanied me on the inspection. During the inspection the mine was actively producing and washing coal, <br /> hauling refuse to the refuse pile and loading and shipping coal from the loadout. The weather was warm and <br /> sunny and the ground was dry. <br /> AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS—Rule 5.02.4(I): <br /> -All of the required records were available in Kathy Welt's office in the main office building. Please see the <br /> Division's Availability of Records form at the end of this inspection report for more detailed information. <br /> FISH and WILDLIFE—Rule 4.18 <br /> -A sow bear and her cub were seen running across the Sylvester Gulch haul road just below the fan. They ran up <br /> into the draw and"disappeared". <br /> HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1,4.05.2,4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, <br /> 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7,4.05.10;Diversions 4.05.4;Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring <br /> 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage—Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8;Impoundments 4.05.6, <br /> 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br /> - Pond SG-1 contained water approximately four feet below the discharge pipe and was not discharging at the time <br /> of the inspection. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. <br /> The emergency spillway was stable. <br /> -The ditches along the Sylvester Gulch haul road have been riprapped with small(approximately six inch)riprap. <br /> The majority of the rock socks have been removed, although there are still a few in place. These rock socks will <br /> be removed soon and replaced with rock check dams. These ditches were all clean and stable. There were no <br /> erosional problems noted in any of the ditch segments and all of the culverts were clear. The ditch segments in the <br /> Sylvester Gulch facilities area were also stable. There were new straw bales placed in some of the ditches to help <br /> control sediment and flow. These straw bales were functioning as designed. <br /> -Pond MB-3 contained water approximately three feet below the top of the discharge pipe and was not <br /> discharging at the time of the inspection. The pond inslopes and surrounding areas were well vegetated and stable. <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 9 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br /> Page 2 of 11 <br />