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September 10, 2014 C- 1981- 012/New Elk Mine LDS <br />lining the pond that would allow water to be cycled in and out of the wash plant thickener tank. <br />Pond 7 had still not been discharged, however the level had continued to drop - the 4th weep -hole on the <br />riser was just exposed. The comments made in the previous inspection report still apply. Short term alternatives to <br />the installation of the staff gauge were discussed; perhaps NECC could mark the primary spillway riser with the <br />level that would allow the pond to retain the 10 year 24 hour event without discharging. <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br />The following permitting actions are in progress: <br />• TR68 (which is a response to MT6). The proposed decision due date has been extended to <br />September 30, 2014. The Division is awaiting a response to the adequacy letters of July 22, 2014. <br />• TR70 was submitted on May 27, 2014. The initial adequacy review was sent to NECC on June 27, <br />2014. The proposed decision due date is September 30, 2014. <br />• RN6 has been found complete, but can't be reviewed for adequacy until TR68 has been approved. <br />PROCESSING WASTE /COAL MINE WASTE PILES — Rule 4.10 and 4.11 <br />Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: <br />Processing waste generated since the resumption of production had been spread and compacted on the <br />RDA, using a sheep's foot roller. Mr Terry said that no more processing waste was expected during the next <br />month since the wash plant was not expected to be in operation. <br />As has been stressed in previous inspection reports, water from the wash plant thickener tank must not <br />be discharged into pond 6 until the pond is lined. <br />ROADS — Rule 4.03 <br />Construction 4.03.1(3)/4.03.2(3); Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4); Surfacing and Maintenance 4.03.1(5) and <br />(6)/4.03.2(5) and (6); Reclamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): <br />The access road to the RDA is proposed to be upgraded to a haul road with TR70. The road was inspected <br />closely, with particular attention paid to its surface and gradient, and to the composition and slope of the <br />embankment fills (in fact, the road appeared to have been constructed by blasting to a bedrock surface, with loosed <br />material pushed to the down -slope side, so "embankment fill" is not a very appropriate description). The adequacy <br />correspondence for TR70 shows that the road does not meet the standard criteria for a haul road, but the inspectors <br />felt that there would be no insurmountable barriers to permitting the road as a haul road. <br />REVEGETATION — Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br />Recently seeded areas (e.g. around culvert C2) were well covered with green vegetation. <br />Several clumps of Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) were observed, particularly at the west end of the site, <br />around the slurry well. Canada Thistle is a noxious weed and should be controlled. The following link is to a <br />fact sheet published by Colorado State University extension service. <br />htip://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/03108.html <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Page 3 of 10 <br />