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October 22, 2014C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal MineRDZ <br />FISH and WILDLIFE –Rule 4.18: <br />Many elk, deer, and antelope were seen in the reclaimed East Pit, as well as other parts of the mine site. <br />Several porcupines were seen along the road to the West Pit Pond (Taylor Creek Road). <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE -Rule 4.05 <br />Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, 4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; <br />Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; <br />Drainage –Acid and ToxicMaterials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />There were no signs of sediment loading from the road or sumps onto undisturbed areas near the Taylor <br />Creek Buffer Zone. <br />The following ponds were inspected on the ground: East Taylor, West Taylor, Work Area, Prospect, Streeter, <br />Stoker Siding, NTEP1, EP1, and PD1. All were discharging except NTEP1 and EP1 (through a group of hoses). <br />For all discharging ponds, no sign of pollutants was observed except East Taylor (see below). NTEP1 and EP1 <br />were not discharging but held water. <br />Cleaning operations at the East Taylor Pond were inspected on October 22. The contractor, Anson Excavation <br />and Pipe, was using a pump to dewater the pond. However, at the time of the inspection the suction hose of the <br />pump was drawing water off of the bottom of the pond and causing turbid water to flow through the flume (the <br />CDPS discharge point). Kurtis Blunt immediately told them to stop pumping and fix the situation. The contactor <br />turned off the pump, and the water in the flume, which was then flowing exclusively through the weep hole of the <br />primary spillway, was then clear. Mr. Blunt instructed the contractor to make sure that the suction hose be <br />adjusted to not allow this problem to happen again. The back hoe operator for the contractor, Dusty Wiseman, <br />indicated that this problem had only been occurring for a short time. The creek below this pond was inspected, <br />and it appeared that there was not a large amount of sediment along the banks. On October 23rd, the pond was <br />inspected again; clear water was flowing through the weep hole. If this problem is observed again, it will be <br />grounds for a potential violation. <br />Work continues on the primary spillway at the Work Area Pond. It was beingdewatered to fix the leak. <br />Other issues and comments regarding the ponds: <br />Spoil springs above the East Taylor Pond (especially the spring to the west of the channel) are causing significant <br />flow through the pond. <br />Significant flow was observed coming out of the West Taylor Fill underdrain and into the West Taylor Pond. <br />The primary spillway for Prospect Pond needs further repair; it has a minor leak. <br />The pipe next to the flume for the Work Area Pond is leaking still. <br />The flume at Stoker Siding has been cleared of vegetation. <br />There is significant erosion at the inlet to Pond EP1. It is not problematic now but should be monitored. <br />In the aerial photographs, all of the ponds with CDPS discharge points were inspected except for the ponds at the <br />loadout and West Pit Pond. In addition, other ponds including EP1, EP2, NTEP1, PD1, and PD2 were inspected. <br />In these photographs, the embankments look stable and no other problems were seen. <br />Number of PartialInspection this Fiscal Year: 3 <br />Number of CompleteInspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />321 <br />Page of <br />