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December 11, 2014 C-1981-022/Elk Creek Mine JRS <br /> <br /> <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />YNRVNA <br />NOTE: =Inspected =Not Inspected =Comments Noted =Violation Issued =Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection N - Roads <br />RN <br /> - Availability of Records - Reclamation Success <br />NN <br /> - Backfill & Grading - Revegetation <br />NN <br /> - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste - Subsidence <br />NN <br /> - Explosives - Slides and Other Damage <br />NN <br /> - Fish & Wildlife - Support Facilities On-site <br />RN <br /> - Hydrologic Balance - Signs and Markers <br />RN <br /> - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />NN <br /> - Other - Special Categories Of Mining <br />NN <br /> - Processing Waste - Topsoil <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS <br /> <br />This was a complete inspection of the Elk Creek Mine conducted by Jim Stark of the Colorado Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Jim Kiger, representing the Elk Creek Mine, accompanied me on the inspection. <br />The mine is currently not operational due to a fire in the gob behind the longwall in panel 18. The mine has been <br />sealed and there is no timeline for the resumption of mining operations. The weather was cool and overcast and <br />the ground was basically dry at the lower elevations. The higher elevations were covered with snow and ice. <br />AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS <br /> Rule 5.02.4(1): <br /> - <br />f this inspection report for more detailed information. <br /> <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE <br /> - Rule 4.05: Drainage Control 4.05.1, 4.05.2, 4.05.3; Siltation Structures 4.05.5, <br />4.05.6; Discharge Structures 4.05.7, 4.05.10; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water <br />Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; <br />Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />- Pond A was dry at the time of the inspection. This is an incised pond by the coal silo. The pond was stable and <br />the State Highway, mine entrance road and rail line. <br />- Pond B contained water approximately six feet below the emergency spillway and was not discharging at the <br />time of the inspection. Discharge is accomplished by opening a gated valve that site below the water level. The <br />pond embankment was well vegetated and stable and no erosional problems were noted. <br />- Pond D contained water approximately five feet below the top of the discharge pipe and was not discharging at <br />the time of the inspection. The pond embankment had some vegetative cover. The embankment was stable and <br />no erosional problems were noted. <br />- The roadside ditches in along the haul road to the Sanborn Creek and Elk Creek facilities areas were all clean. <br />The ditches were stable, with no erosional problems noted. These ditches should be ready for any spring runoff. <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> <br />27 <br />Page of <br /> <br /> <br />