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August 19, 2014 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine JHB <br /> <br /> <br />Ponds that were inspected include: <br />RPE pond (east and west cells); The east cell was holding water approximately 2.5 feet below the discharge pipe. <br />The west cell was dry. No problems were identified with either cell. <br />SG-1; there was a small trickle of water in this pond. Some sediment has accumulated in the bottom of this lined <br />pond. <br />NSSA Pond <br />FW-1: holding water below discharge level <br />FW-2A & B: Holding water in both cells below discharge level <br />MB-5E (North & South cell) Both cells holding water. Not discharging <br />MB-3: holding water below discharge level. <br /> <br />Sylvester Gulch Detention Pond. The detention pond was dry and well vegetated. There was no evidence of <br />recent water retention is this detention pond. <br /> <br />Sylvester Gulch water treatment ponds were not in use at the time of the inspection. These lined ponds still hold a <br />small pool of water in the west cell, while the east cell was dry. <br /> <br />OTHER (drilling): <br /> MCC is anticipating conducting some drilling operations in the Lick Creek area. During initial discussion <br />with Kathy Welt of MCC in the office prior to the surface inspection, Kathy informed the inspector that drilling <br />had not yet begun. MCC was working on procuring a driller. The Lick Creek drainage was not inspected during <br />this inspection. <br /> <br />Overall the site appears to be well maintained and clean. No immediate maintenance concerns were noted. <br /> <br />PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES Rule 4.10 and 4.11 <br />Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: <br /> The east side of the RPE was seeded in late 2013. Vegetation on this slope is establishing as typical for <br />first year growth with annual and biennial vegetative species becoming established. Further investigation found <br />perennial grass species establishing and perennial forb species like Small burnett. Some rilling was occurring but <br />no gully formation. Jessica indicated that MCC may interseed portions of this slope this fall to help with <br />vegetation establishment. Other species observed included Prickly lettuce, Annual sunflower, Knotweed, <br />Goosefoot. Noxious weeds listed by Colorado Department of Agriculture were not observed. <br /> <br />Jessica indicated that MCC would hand broadcast and hand mulch straw if they choose to interseed this slope. <br /> <br />RPEE: The rock buttress at the toe of the RPEE had settled. MCC has reworked the top of the buttress to assure <br />positive drainage off the buttress. MCC had completed the grading of this work at the time of the inspection. <br /> <br />An excavator was placing rock in the under drain at the top (southern) portion of the active RPEE. (photos 1-3) <br />Bottom of under drain consisted of fabric. Rocks being placed were being picked from a rock pile of roughly 1.5 <br />foot dia. to 3 feet dia. rocks. Jessica said that some of the rock used was from rockfall that had occurred along <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 <br /> <br />36 <br />Page of <br /> <br /> <br />