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May 21, 2014 C- 1981 - 019 /Colowyo Coal Mine JRS <br />- The Prospect Ditch is a large riprapped ditch that drains a portion of the East Pit. The ditch was stable at the <br />time of the inspection with no erosional problems noted. <br />- The Final East Pit Ditch is a large riprapped ditch that drains the final cut area of the East Pit. This ditch has <br />been constructed up to the 2013 reclamation block. The ditch was stable at the time of the inspection, with no <br />erosional problems noted. <br />- As noted in the Division's May 2014 aerial inspection report (based on the 14 May 2014 pictures taken by Harry <br />Ranney of the Division), there were three locations along the Streeter Gulch Ditch where it appeared that the water <br />may have breached or overtopped the ditch and flowed into the undisturbed (or Phase III Bond Released areas of <br />the East Pit). These areas were inspected on the afternoon of 21 May 2014 to determine what had happened. <br />Basically these areas are where the gradient of the ditch decreases to the point of being almost flat. Although the <br />ground was basically dry at the time of the inspection, the high water mark was clearly visible. The "blown out <br />areas" that was seen in aerial photographs was water collecting in these areas. It was the determination of the <br />Division that the water did not leave the site, as this ditch has not has a bond release yet. Further, aside from <br />pooling water, which was dry at the time of the on the ground inspection, there was no impact to the surrounding <br />area. These are areas that the Division has inspected in the past and has noted that there is not positive drainage. <br />The Division determined at that time that to achieve positive drainage (on the order of 1 -2 %) Colowyo would have <br />to disturb several thousand feet of stable drainage and reclamation. It was determined that it was better to leave <br />the ditch as -is than to create a new disturbance in reclamation that dates back to the late 1970's and early 1980's. <br />The Division does request that Colowyo look at these flat spots and figure out if it is possible to clean the <br />Streeter Gulch Ditch out without disturbing the surrounding reclamation. This would require very small <br />equipment and very skilled operators. Please report your findings to the Division no later than 31 July <br />2014. <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br />- Colowyo was removing overburden in the South Taylor Pit with the 115 excavator. They were hauling this <br />overburden to the West Taylor Fill, as described above. <br />- Colowyo was highwall mining the G7 /G8 coal seam in the South Taylor Pit. They were not loading or hauling <br />any of this coal at the time of the inspection. <br />- The 103 dragline was pulling overburden material out of the East Pit and placing in the fill for the newly <br />permitted haul road. <br />- The 101 and 102 draglines and the 114 shovel were idle at the time of the inspection. <br />- Colowyo has completed mining overburden removal operations in the West Pit. Kurt indicated that there was a <br />small amount of coal in the east side that still needs to be removed. At that point all mining operations in the West <br />Pit will be concluded. <br />- All of the operations at the Colowyo Mine were being conducted in accordance with the approved operations and <br />reclamation plan. The mining is specifically shown on Map 23 (East and West Pits) and Map 23 A (South <br />Taylor). <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 12 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 <br />Page 5 of 24 <br />