Laserfiche WebLink
Apri122, 2014 C- 1981 - 022 /Elk Creek Mine BFB <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y= Inspected N =Not Inspected R= Comments Noted V= Violation Issued NA =Not Applicable <br />R - Air Resource Protection <br />R - Roads <br />R - Availability of Records <br />N - Reclamation Success <br />R - Backfill & Grading <br />R - Revegetation <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - Explosives <br />N - Slides and Other Damage <br />R - Fish & Wildlife <br />N - Support Facilities On -site <br />R - Hydrologic Balance <br />R - Signs and Markers <br />N - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Support Facilities Not On -site <br />R - Other <br />N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />R - Processing Waste <br />N - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />This was a complete inspection of theElk Creek Mine conducted by Brock Bowles of the Colorado Division of <br />Reclamation Mining and Safety. Jim Kiger of Oxbow Mining, LLC was present for the inspection. The weather <br />was overcast with occasional showers. The ground was damp from rain showers. Mr Kiger said the upper <br />elevations of the mine were still muddy, snow covered and inaccessible, therefore, no gob vent boreholes were <br />inspected. Elk Creek is not producing coal at this time and continues to work with a reduced staff. <br />AIR RESOURCE PROTECTION — Rule 4.17: <br />There was coal on the stockpile and some smoke coming from the pile indicating a hotspot in the coal. <br />Bulldozers were not working the coal and coal was not being stacked (photo 1). There were no signs of fugitive <br />coal dust onsite or off. Coal smoke was coming from a vent in the ground (see OTHER section below for more <br />details). The smoke dissipated within 20 feet of the vent. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS — Rule 5.02.4(1): <br />All files were available for review at the OMLLC office. The Annual Reclamation Report needs to be <br />updated. See attached availability of records checklist. <br />BACKFILL and GRADING — Rule 4.14 <br />Contemporaneous Reclamation 4.14.1; Approximate Original Contour 4.14.2; Highwall Elimination 4.14.1(2)(f); <br />Steep Slopes 4.14.2, 4.27; Handling of Acid and Toxic Materials 4.14.3; Stabilization of Rills and Gullies 4.14.6: <br />The drill pad for the gas producing well at the Sanborn Creek portal area appear to be stable. <br />FISH and WILDLIFE — Rule 4.18: <br />Three mule deer were seen on the topsoil stock piles in the refuse pile area. <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 <br />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; <br />Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 9 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />