2014-06-03_INSPECTION - C1981038

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May 20, 2014 C- 1981 -038 /Bowie No. 1 Mine MLT • At the southwestern end of the rail corridor, we encountered an area where water was flowing across the surface of the corridor and into the adjacent orchard. The source of water was determined to be an irrigation pipeline located between SH 133 and the rail corridor. Basil Bear was notified of the condition following the inspection. He visited the site the following morning, and contacted the owner of the ditch who discovered that a screen had become clogged, forcing water across the surface. Mr. Bear confirmed that the condition was remedied, and notified me by telephone that afternoon (May 21) that repairs had been made. • Dilapidated silt fence was observed in several locations throughout the permit area. BRL needs to review the alternative sediment control requirements in the currently approved permit application package to determine which areas of silt fence are instrumental in the approved sediment control plan. Required silt fence should be replaced/repaired as necessary. Supplemental silt fences should either be maintained or removed [With MR- 132 in October 2013, straw wattles were approved as an acceptable alternative to silt fence. ] PROCESSING WASTE /COAL MINE WASTE PILES Rule 4.10 and 4.11 Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: We inspected the two coal mine waste disposal areas (refuse piles) at the East Mine. Both piles have been covered, topsoiled, seeded, and granted Phase I bond release. Design information is found in Volume 6A of the permit binders. West Ridge ( "New ") Disposal Area • The West Ridge pile is the larger of the two. It was designed and approved in 1982 -83, and modified in 1994 under TR -25. • The ridge top extends roughly southward (Photo 4) from the western end of the reclaimed crushing and screening bench. Approved design details included 2h: Iv side slopes, with a 20' -wide bench (terrace) located 50' above the toe of the pile (Photo 5). • Slope measurements were taken in the field. The slope below the bench was found to be 23 degrees (42 %, or 2.35h:lv). The upper slope was slightly flatter, at 33% (3h:ly) (Photos 6 and 7). "Old" Waste Disposal Area • Design details for this structure are found in the "Reclaimed Disposal Area" tab of Volume 6A. This pile was in use prior to SMCRA. • This pile has a relatively flat top surface, with steep side slopes (Photo 8) • Construction of this pile occurred in the mid to late 1970's before the permanent program rules and regulations were approved and it was not constructed in compliance with the newly approved Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. The Division instructed the operator at the time of permit approval in August 1981 to complete an appropriate geotechnical investigation for a new proposed site. The deadline for completion of an approved design was July 30, 1982. Until the new design (West Ridge Area) was approved, the operator was allowed to continue placing waste on the old waste pile; however, placement of the waste had to conform with the requirements of Rule 4.10.4(3). The original findings document dated August 20, 1981 explains the permitting history. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 12 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 Page 3 of 9