2014-07-25_INSPECTION - C1980007

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June 25, 2014 C- 1980- 007/West Elk Mine JRS - The east cell of the RPE pond was basically full but was not discharging at the time of the inspection. The west cell was basically dry but water was flowing into the pond. The water was coming from Sylvester Gulch and is part of West Elk's water right. The water will be used in the wash plant. The Division understands that West Elk has become a closed -loop system as far as surface water runoff and they use the ponds for storage capacity. However, the operator must keep in mind that the ponds must have the capacity and ability to either contain or safely treat and pass the runoff from a 10- year /24 -hour storm event. The pond is basically an incised, lined pond. It was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - Pond SG -1 was basically dry at the time of the inspection. West Elk also uses any water from this pond for its water trucks. The pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. - The riprapped ditch on the east side of the RPE was stable at the time of the inspection. The ditches around the RPE were also stable. No erosional problems were noted in any of these ditches. - The sediment control ditch at the RPEE was stable at the time of the inspection. The lower portion of the ditch that was recently riprapped (as it flows into the RPE pond) remains stable. There were no erosional problems noted in the ditch. The haul road ditch that intercepts the RPEE ditch was clean. The culvert that was noted as being full last month has been cleaned. There was a straw bale placed in front of the culvert (several feet away) to help filter out sediment before it gets to the culvert. The sump before the culvert was full and will be cleaned out (it is a BMP and is not required). - The ditch along the Sylvester Gulch haul road was clean and stable at the time of the inspection. The rock check dams were functioning as designed. There were no erosional problems noted in the ditch. GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: - Current mining operations are in longwall panel E5. They were approximately half way between cross -cut 62 and 63, at station 19 +00. - Development mining was currently being conducted in the longwall panel E6 headgate. They were at approximately cross -cut 42. at station 79 +00. There does not appear to be any further development of the E south mains. The development of entries lE -5E is at cross -cut 79. The development of entries 6E -8E is at cross -cut 84. - All of the mining at the West Elk is progressing as permitted and shown on approved Map 51 - E -Seam Projected Operations. PROCESSING WASTE /COAL MINE WASTE PILES — Rule 4.10 and 4.11 Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: - The RPE was stable at the time of the inspection. The refuse that had been placed on the pile was dry and the operator was loading the refuse and hauling it to the RPEE, where it was being dumped, spread and compacted. The pile was well graded and appeared to have positive drainage. There was no water pooling on the surface of the pile at the time of the inspection. The outslope area that was reclaimed in the fall of 2013 was showing good first -year growth. Jessica did indicate that West Elk may reseed that area this fall. The "older" reclaimed areas were very well vegetated. There were no weeds or erosional problems noted on any of the RPE reclamation. The spring on the north face of the pile was still "flowing" - there was still a wet spot on that part of the pile. Overall the RPE is in good condition. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 11 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 3 of 14