2013-11-22_INSPECTION - C1981022

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Mine Site Inspection Mine Name: Elk Creek Mine Permittee: Oxbow Mining, LLC Permit ID #: C- 1981 -022 Inspection Date: November 6, 2013 9:00 — 2:45 Inspection Type: Complete Oversight Weather Conditions: Cold (20's to 30's), dry with very minor patchy snow, light cloud cover Participants: Christine Belka, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) #182 Brock Bowles, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) Jim Kiger, Oxbow Mining, LLC (Oxbow) This was a complete oversight inspection. Elk Creek is a producing, federal underground mine. Production has been drastically reduced since the recent loss of a longwall machine in the Northeast Mains. Rising carbon monoxide levels in the mine workings indicated a spontaneous combustion event in the gob behind the longwall had re- ignited. All equipment that could be salvaged has been removed, but the longwall machine could not be retrieved. Oxbow Mining is now developing the East District and is currently exploring options to replace the lost longwall machine. Temporary mine de- watering outfall 015B is no longer active. Mine water is being pumped to the B -seam as it has historically been, rather than to the surface. A recent layoff reduced staffing from around 280 to approximately 130 employees. Roads (Rule 4.03): All roads traveled were generally in good repair. Diversion ditches were well maintained, however, two areas were encountered where sediment control structures should be improved (see discussion under Hydrology or maintenance bullets at end). The road leading up to gob vent boreholes above the Bear Creek fan site was not passable due to muddy conditions. Such conditions are usual for this area in winter and do not indicate a problem with road maintenance or drainage. Coal Mine Waste (Rules 4.10 and 4 11): There are two permitted refuse facilities at Elk Creek: the West Valley Coal Refuse Facility and the II West Coal Refuse Facility. Both are constructed, neither is completed. The West Valley fill was constructed first. There is storage capacity remaining at this location but the upper portion is currently being used as a staging area. The face of this fill is stable and well vegetated. The II West fill is active at this time. Material is placed and spread in lifts (see photo #13549). The face is stable and well vegetated with marked differences in plant species coinciding with the age of establishment (new placement / upper areas exhibit more weedy species while older / lower areas exhibit more desirable native species). Hydrology Rule 4.05): No ponds were discharging during this inspection. Ponds A, B, C, D, and the East Yard sediment pond contained water. Pond E was dry. All observed pond embankments are stable. The culvert routing Pond E discharge under the railroad toward the North Fork of the Gunnison is filling with debris on both ends, although the interior of the culvert appears clear