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December 10, 2014C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal MineRDZ <br />EXPLOSIVES –Rule 4.08 <br />Distance Prohibitions 4.08.4; Warnings 4.08.4; Control of Adverse Effects 4.08.4: <br />Rob Zuber met with Chip Brown in his office to check blast logs and discuss Colowyo’s procedures <br />related to blasting. He has over four yearsof records in his office leading up to 12/10/2014, the day before the <br />inspection. Chargeweight sheets show the pounds per each hole. Other maps are needed to get exact location, but <br />in the future Chip will add the coordinates of the hole nearest to a residence. An inspection of Colowyo’s aerial <br />photograph (taken October 2014) of the mine and surrounding area showed power lines much further than 500 feet <br />from the South Taylor Pit, which is in compliance with Rule 4.08.4(7). <br />A blast was observed from the water tank above the South Taylor parking lot. This was an overburden shot (F <br />seam) in the center of the South Taylor pit. The observation point was estimated to be a half mile away. All radio <br />communications and signals were heard and appeared to be in compliance with the PAP and rules. No noxious <br />gas fumes were seen. <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 Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />The following ponds were inspected: East Taylor, West Taylor, West Pit, Rail Loop, Gossard, Streeter, <br />Prospect, Section 16, Stock Tank H, and Work Area. The following were discharging: East Taylor, West Taylor, <br />Streeter, Prospect (very small leak through de-watering valve causing ice accumulation in slope drain), Gossard, <br />and Stoker Siding. From these discharging ponds, no sign of pollutants was observed. Other observations <br />regarding the ponds: <br />The conductivity of the discharge from the East Taylor Pond was measured to be 4,500 us/cm by Rob <br />Zuber with an Extech meter. Kurtis Blunt used his meter (YSI 30/10) also and measured 4,300 us/cm. <br />This discharge was relatively large, as is often the case at this pond due to the spring above the pond. The <br />conductivity in the water from the spring itself (measured approximately five feet from where it exits the <br />ground) was also 4,500 us/cm as measured by Rob Zuber. <br />The conductivity of the relatively large discharge from the West Taylor Pond was measured to be 2,140 <br />us/cm by Rob Zuber. Kurtis Blunt used his meter also and measured 2,100 us/cm. <br />The conductivity of the relatively large discharge from the Streeter Pond was measured to be 3,330 us/cm <br />by Rob Zuber. Kurtis Blunt used his meter also and measured 3,070 us/cm. <br />The primary spillway at the Work Area Pond has been fixed; it was not leaking even though the water in <br />the pond was near the top of the de-watering gate valve. <br />No problems were observed with any of the embankments of the ponds. <br />Other than the small leak at Prospect, no problems were observed with spillways of the ponds. <br />KurtBlunt cleaned coal dust out of the Rail Loop flume during the inspection. <br />Sediment accumulation appears to be large in the West Pit Pond, but, per Kurt Blunt, the survey of this <br />pond shows that cleaning is not needed currently or in the immediate future. <br />Number of PartialInspection this Fiscal Year: 4 <br />Number of CompleteInspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />313 <br />Page of <br />