_INSPECTION - C1980007 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DRMS
• To: Kathleen Welt
• Inspection Date: 12/11/2013
• Email Name: JRS
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

December 11,2013 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine JRS
Inspection Topic Summary
NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable
N -Air Resource Protection N -Roads
N -Availability of Records N -Reclamation Success
N -Backfill& Grading N -Revegetation
N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence
N -Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage
N -Fish&Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site
R -Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers
R -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site
N -Other N - Special Categories Of Mining
R -Processing Waste N -Topsoil
COMMENTS
This was a partial inspection of the West Elk Mine conducted by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of
Reclamation,Mining and Safety. Jessica Loveland,representing Mountain Coal,was present on the inspection.
The mine was actively mining,loading and shipping coal. The weather was cold and sunny and the ground was
covered with several inches of snow. With the recent snowfall,many parts of the mine were inaccessible at the
time of the inspection and will remain inaccessible until late spring or early summer when all of the snow melts
and the roads dry out.
HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 Drainage Control 4.05.1,4.05.2,4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5,
4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7,4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water
Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage —Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8;
Impoundments 4.05.6,4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18:
-The RPE pond east cell was basically full but was not discharging. The west cell was basically empty at the time
of the inspection. The RPE pond is a lined,incised pond. The pond was stable and no erosional problems were
noted.
- With the onset of winter and snow at the West Elk Mine, all of the roadside and pond ditches are now covered
with snow. As in years past,the snow acts as an insulator and allows the water to flow(and not freeze)below the
snow blanket. The Division agrees with West Elk's practice of leaving the snow blanket covering the ditches.
However,West Elk must continue to monitor these ditches to ensure that they do not freeze (in spots or as a
whole) and allow water to flow out of the ditch. If this happens West Elk will need to immediately fix the
problem.
GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE:
-West Elk is currently mining in longwall panel E4. They are at station 29+40,which is half-way between cross-
cuts 17 and 18.
-West Elk has completed development on the headgate for longwall panel E5. They should be moving the
longwall in early spring 2014.
-West Elk is currently developing the longwall panel E6 headgate. They are at station 19+00,which is at
approximately cross-cut 12.
Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4
Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2
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