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May 20, 2014 C- 1980- 007/West Elk Mine JRS <br />the fabric in place. Leaving this portion of the underdrain uncovered will allow West Elk to tie it in as they <br />continue up the drainage. There was a spot above the fourth lift on the east side of the pile where snow (and some <br />refuse) had been pushed as they cleaned off the working bench. This snow was melting and the area was a bit wet <br />and sloppy. None of this water was making its way onto the pile, as it was all localized to the area of the pile of <br />snow (this water would flow into the sediment ditch if it melted quickly). The first three lifts have been graded to <br />approximately 30% slope (as measured in the field). The maximum approved slope of the RPEE is 2.5:1 (Exhibit <br />82) or 40% slope. The measured slope of the RPEE's first three benches are within the approved limit. There was <br />some minor rilling on the bottom of the first lift j ust above the colluvial fill. This rilling and any other rilling that <br />occurs will need to be repaired to ensure the stability of the pile. Weston indicated that West Elk may replace <br />cover and topsoil on these slopes this fall. The rock buttress was stable at the time of the inspection. West Elk has <br />completed the Phase IA portion of the buttress and has been working on adding rock to the buttress for the Phase <br />1B buttress. The buttress was measured at approximately 50% slope (as measured in the field). The maximum <br />approved slope of the RPEE buttress is 1.5:1 (Exhibit 82) or 66.7% slope. The measured slope of the RPEE's <br />buttress is within the approved limit. <br />- There was a small spot on the east side of the RPEE, just east of the ditch, above the first lift, that has some <br />minor erosional problems that need to be repaired. This is a very steep slope that was seeded and covered with <br />coconut fiber mat and straw waddles. It appears as if the coconut fiber netting was pulled down the slope due to <br />snow loading similar to what happened last year at the HR -1 slide area. It appears as though much of the issue, as <br />with the HR -1 slide area, was movement of material at the surface of the area only and not an overall stability <br />issue. West Elk will need to repair this area once conditions on the ground permit. <br />- The RPE was being used to temporarily store and dry refuse at the time of the inspection. The refuse will then be <br />loaded and hauled to the RPEE for final disposal. There were some small puddles of water in the temporarily <br />stockpiled refuse but there was no water on the surface of the RPE (either pooling or flowing). West Elk is <br />continually moving and mixing this refuse to allow it to dry, so these puddles are common. They have cut a small <br />ditch in the surface of the RPE to allow any water from the refuse to flow into the east ditch to the RPE pond. The <br />newly subsoiled, topsoiled and seeded portion of the RPE was stable at the time of the inspection. There were no <br />erosional problems noted on these slopes. There was good early emergence of the vegetation on the newly <br />reclaimed portion of the pile. The depth of the subsoil and topsoil was not directly measured but it was a total <br />depth of four feet at the upper edge of the pile, where it meets the active surface of the pile. The older reclamation <br />was very well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. There were two small springs noted on <br />the reclaimed outslopes of the pile. One was in the newly reclaimed area and the other was in the older <br />reclamation. Given the large amount of water that flows from the slopes above the RPE, it is not unusual to see <br />springs like these. To date there have been no signs of any instability in the area(s) of these springs. It is <br />something that will be continually monitored by the Division. The reclaimed slopes at the RPE were field <br />measured at approximately 39 %. The maximum approved slope of the RPE outslopes is 2.5:1 (Exhibit 70) or 40% <br />slope. The measured slope of the RPE's outslope is within the approved limit. <br />- The LRP was not active at the time of the inspection. West Elk has constructed the coal wash plant on the top <br />surface of the pile, as it was one of the few flat spots on the mine site. West Elk is permitted to temporarily store <br />refuse and development waste on the north side of the wash plant. This material, when stored there, is loaded and <br />hauled to the RPEE for final disposal. The slopes at the LRP have been reclaimed (with subsoil, topsoil and <br />reseeded). The pile was stable and the vegetative cover was excellent with no erosional problems noted at the time <br />of the inspection. Slope measurements were taken on the north, north - northeast and east reclaimed slopes of the <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 10 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 <br />Page 4 of 19 <br />