2014-07-25_INSPECTION - C1980007

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June 25, 2014 C- 1980- 007/West Elk Mine JRS - West Elk was actively hauling refuse to the fourth lift of the RPEE at the time of the inspection. They were also spreading and compacting the refuse. There were several piles of uncompacted refuse but they were actively working on them. The refuse was being spread in lifts of approximately six inches by a dozer. The dozer operator was doing a very good job getting thin, even lifts. As indicated last month, the underdrain has been extended up the draw. There was no addition to this drain. It still remains covered and in good condition. The rock buttress and the first three lifts remained stable. Overall the RPEE is in good condition. ROADS — Rule 4.03; Construction 4.03.1(3)/4.03.2(3); Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4); Surfacing and Maintenance 4.031. 1(5) and (6)/4.03.2(5) and (6); Reclamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): - The main haul road is a paved road. It was stable at the time of the inspection. - The Sylvester Gulch haul road was stable and well maintained at the time of the inspection. There were no erosional problems noted on the road. The operator was watering portions of the road to help control fugitive dust. - HR -1, which runs from the RPE to the RPEE, was well maintained and stable at the time of the inspection. The rock surfacing on the road has withstood the 35 ton articulated trucks well. West Elk was actively watering the road to help control fugitive dust. SLIDES and DAMAGE - Rule 4.12: - The HR -1 slide area remained stable at the time of the inspection. There is good growth over much of the reclaimed slide. The area was hydroseeded (with mulch and a tackifier) last fall. While there are still some bare spots, the slope and aspect of the reclaimed slide make reestablishing vegetation somewhat difficult. It will probably be a couple of more years before the vegetation really takes hold. There was no water flowing out of either the crusher fines filter layer or the French drain. - The ST -02 slide area remained stable at the time of the inspection. The area is well vegetated and no signs of movement were observed. SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: - The loadout area was well maintained and stable at the time of the inspection. There was some coal on the tracks immediately below the loadout structure itself from minor "spillage" but nothing that rises to the level of concern. The area was clean and in order. - The coal silo and lower stockpile area was stable and well maintained at the time of the inspection. There were no problems noted in this area. - West Elk, through a contractor, was actively drilling the remaining longwall panel E5 methane drainage wells. MDW E5 -20 was just completed. The pad was stable and the topsoil stockpile was seeded and mulched and a sign was in place. The mud pit was still full but it was fenced. It will be backfilled once it dries out. The pad for MDW E5 -18 was built but the well was not drilled. he mud pit was dug and fenced but it was obviously dry. The topsoil stockpile was seeded and mulched and a sign was in place. MDW E5 -17 was completed. The pad was stable and the topsoil stockpile was seeded and mulched and a sign was in place. The mud pit was still full but it was fenced. It will be backfilled once it dries out. The contractor was just setting up the drill rig on MDW pad E5 -16. The pad and mud pit were stable and no problems were noted. This was a rather large pad an there were topsoil stockpiles on both sides of the pad. The stockpiles were seeded and mulched and marker signs were in place on both piles. Finally, the contractor was working on constructing the pad for MDW E5 -15 at the time of the inspection. There was also a long road spur that was built to access this pad. Both the pad and road Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 11 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 4 of 14