2015-02-09_INSPECTION - C1980007

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ditches without freezing. The operator needs to continue to monitor these ditches to ensure that the water is not flowing out of them. - The ditches around the LRP were all clean at the time of the inspection. These ditches are concrete lined. They were stable at the time of the inspection. GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: - West Elk is currently mining in longwall panel E5. They were half way between cross -cut 29 and 30 at station 53 +00. They have completed development work on the longwall panel E6 headgate and start room. Development work was being done in the Sunset Mains. All six mains have been completed to cross -cut 4. All mining is progressing as permitted and shown on Map 51 - E -Seam Projected Operations. OTHER (SPECIFY): - West Elk was hauling the remaining coal from the Elk Creek Mine. They have received approximately 30,000 tons of coal. The coal is being mixed into their stockpiles and being shipped out with their coal sales. PROCESSING WASTE /COAL MINE WASTE PILES — Rule 4.10 and 4.11: Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: - The RPEE has been shut down for the winter and spring seasons. The haul road was inaccessible just past the RPE. The operator did a large amount of work on the RPEE prior to the winter to ensure it was stable for the snow and runoff. - The RPE was stable at the time of the inspection. The pile was well graded to allow for positive drainage and there was no water pooling on the surface of the pile at the time of the inspection. There were several piles of unspread, uncompacted refuse of the south edge of the pile. West Elk is permitted to stockpile refuse on the RPE during the winter months. These few small piles do not come close to this volume. The reclaimed slopes were covered with snow but appeared to be stable, with no erosional problems noted. ROADS — Rule 4.03: Construction 4.03.1(3)/4.03.2(3); Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4); Surfacing and Maintenance 4.03.1(5) and (6)/4.03.2(5) and (6); Reclamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): - The main haul/access road is a paved road. It was dry and stable at the time of the inspection. No problems were noted on the road at the time of the inspection. - The haul road to the Sylvester Gulch facilities area is a gravel road. It was dry and remained stable at the time of the inspections. There were no erosional problems noted on the road. - The light -use road to the portal area was stable at the time of the inspection. There were no erosional problems noted on the road. SLIDES and DAMAGE - Rule 4.12: - The HR -1 slide area was covered with patches of snow but appeared to remain stable at the time of the inspection. There was no evidence of any movement along the slide area. There was no settling, slumping or cracking noted on the surface of the slide area. DOCUMENTS RECEIVED: None This concludes the 22 January 2015 partial inspection report for the West Elk Mine.