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October 15, 2014C-1996-083/Bowie No. 2 MineSLB <br />In accordance with Rule 4.11.4(1), non-coal waste materials need to be placed in a designated area within <br />the permit area (approved material storage area or disposal bin, as appropriate). <br />General Comment <br />A hissing sound was observed near the valve of GVB-B17E (recently drilled). Bill Bear opened the valve on the <br />hole and a strongblastof gases, exhibiting an odor characteristic of hydrocarbon, escaped the pipe. The pipe was <br />apparently under a considerable amount of pressure, reported by Mr. Bear as “not uncommon” on newly drilled <br />holes. He indicated that a pump and/or standpipe would be installed to relieve the pressure. <br />PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES –Rule 4.10 and 4.11, Drainage Control; Surface <br />Stabilization; Placement: <br />Gob Pile #1 <br />Gob Pile #1 has been inactive since the upper end of the pile was incorporated into Gob Pile #4 in 2007. During <br />the May 21, 2014 Division inspection of Gob Pile #1,also a Special Focus Inspection during which the Office of <br />Surface Mining conducted oversight of the Division, the Division observedaslope on the western flank of the <br />lower bench that wasin excess of the currently approved maximum slope of 2:1. BRL subsequently verified that <br />the western flank of Gob Pile #1 had been constructed steeper than 2:1.The slope area in question was identified <br />with survey stakes at the time of the October 15, 2014 inspection. The area is approximately 0.2 acres in size; Gob <br />Pile #1 covers approximately 2.3 acres. <br />During the October 15, 2014inspection, options for correcting the western flank slope were discussed with BRL <br />personnel. The requirements for construction of coal mine waste banks are outlined in Rule 4.10, and Rule 4.10 <br />states that coal mine waste banks must also meetthe requirements of Rules 4.09 and 4.11.Rule 4.10.4(4) states <br />that in no case shall the slope of a terrace on a coal mine waste bank be steeper than 2:1.Rule 4.09.1(3) allows for <br />alternative specifications to the construction requirements of Rule 4.09, provided the proposed alternatives would <br />be environmentally sound and structurally stable. Given the small area in relation to the overall size of the pile, it <br />is quite possible that the waste bank would be structurally stable and meet the required minimum static safety <br />factor of 1.5 (Rule 1.10.1(2). TheDivision discussed with the Office of Surface Mining (on October 22, 2014)the <br />rules pertaining toalternativespecifications to waste pile construction. OSM hasconfirmed that it would be <br />appropriate for the Division to consider avariancefrom the requirement of Rule 4.10.4(4) for the 0.2 acre area of <br />Gob Pile #1 where the slope is steeper than 2:1. <br />On or before December 31, 2014,BRL should determine whether a variance will be requested for the <br />oversteep slope on Gob Pile #1 and submit a technical revision to request the variance, or regrade Gob Pile <br />#1 to correct the slope. <br />Gob Pile #2 <br />Refuse was being dumped on Gob Pile #2, and an excavator was rehandling the material to promote drying so that <br />grading and compaction could occur. The operator indicated that material removed from the lower two benches, <br />to attain the appropriate outslope configuration, was being moved up to the upper bench and mixed in with the wet <br />(recently dumped) material to obtain the optimum moisture content for compaction. <br />Number of PartialInspection this Fiscal Year: 3 <br />Number of CompleteInspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />737 <br />Page of <br />