Laserfiche WebLink
BOWIE RESOURCES, LLC <br />Bowie No. 2 Mine <br />Coal Mine Waste Bank Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4 Inspections - 3`d Quarter 2014 <br />On September 23, 2014 a visual inspection of the Bowie No. 2 Mine coal mine waste banks <br />was performed by the undersigned in accordance with Rule 4.10.2. This inspection includes <br />Gob Pile Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Pile No. 1 is considered inactive. Pile nos. 2 and 4 are <br />essentially one combined pile. Pile no. 3 is located south of Bowie Road. <br />I, J. E. Stover, P.E., have a wide variety of experience in the design and construction of earth <br />fill embankments. Nothing was observed during the inspection that would indicate the piles <br />have a potential for failure. No seepage was noted at the toe of the piles. The underdrain at <br />gob pile #3 was flowing. The gob disposal areas were essentially dry. All organic material <br />and topsoil has been removed ahead of the waste bank founding. The upper and lower <br />diversion and collection ditches for all of the piles were inspected. No problems were noted. <br />At gob pile #2 the first bench east of the haul road is covered with soil. The second bench <br />east of the haul road is mostly covered with a subsoil pile. Most of the third and forth <br />benches east of the road are covered with soil. Cover was placed on the west half gob pile <br />#4 during the quarter. The top bench received topsoil, seed, and an erosion control mat was <br />installed during the quarter. <br />Most of the coal mine waste was generated from the preparation plant. Approximately <br />316,766 tons of gob were hauled to the gob piles. The Operator estimates 75% of the gob <br />hauled during the quarter was placed in gob pile #3 with the remainder placed in gob pile #2. <br />Coal mine waste is to be placed in the piles in approximately horizontal lifts no more than 24- <br />inches thick. The coal mine waste is dried and then spread and compacted by self propelled <br />sheepsfoot compactors. One hundred (100) compaction tests were performed during the <br />quarter. Forty eight (48) at gob pile #2 and fifty two (52) at gob pile #3. One test failed. The <br />failed test passed after the area was reworked. A test meets specifications if the test attains <br />at least 90% of the maximum dry density attained in a laboratory compaction test in <br />accordance with ASTM D698. There are no outstanding density test failures at the end of <br />the third quarter. <br />The top of gob pile #2 serves as a drying area for end dumped gob. Gob is to be stacked to <br />a maximum height of 20 feet, with a slope angle up to 1.5h:1v. A 25 foot buffer zone on the <br />face of the gob pile will be maintained at all times. Gob will be spread and compacted to the <br />currently approved slope configuration as soon as gob and weather conditions allow. There <br />was no end dumped material in the drying area during the inspection. <br />The westernmost section of gob pile #3 serves as a drying area for end dumped material. <br />The purpose of the gob drying area is to provide an area for temporary storage of gob for <br />drying purposes. End - dumped gob in the gob drying area is worked with dozers and track <br />hoes to assist in the drying process. The Operator added and removed processed gob from <br />the designated drying area. <br />as <br />