2015-02-23_INSPECTION - C1981022

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 2/23/2015
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DRMS
• To: Oxbow Mining, LLC
• Inspection Date: 2/17/2015
• Email Name: MLT
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

February 17, 2015 C -1981- 022 /Elk Creek Mine MLT
Inspection Topic Summary
NOTE: Y= Inspected N =Not Inspected R= Comments Noted V= Violation Issued NA =Not Applicable
Y - Air Resource Protection
R - Availability of Records
Y - Backfrll & Grading
Y - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste
R - Explosives
Y - Fish & Wildlife
R - Hydrologic Balance
Y - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan
N - Other
R - Processing Waste
Y - Roads
Y - Reclamation Success
Y - Revegetation
Y - Subsidence
Y - Slides and Other Damage
R - Support Facilities On -site
R - Signs and Markers
NA - Support Facilities Not On -site
NA - Special Categories Of Mining
Y -Topsoil
COMMENTS
A complete inspection of the Elk Creek Mine was conducted by Marcia Talvitie of the DRMS on
Tuesday and Wednesday, February 17 -18, 2015. Jim Kiger was in Denver attending the SME /
CMA conference, so Ben Godwin, Mine Engineer, accompanied me on the inspection. Records
were inspected on the 17th, and the field portion of the inspection took place on the morning of
the 18th. Skies were clear and temperatures were unseasonably mild.
SIGNS AND MARKERS Rule 4.02:
• Mine Identification signs and surface disturbance markers were installed as required
throughout the surface facilities area.
• Topsoil stockpiles were marked with identifying signs.
SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04:
The company had completed its contract to sell coal to the Bowie No. 2 Mine, and coal was
currently being hauled to the West Elk Mine. Only IOk to 12k tons remained at the stack
tube area south of Pond D (Photo 1). Mr. Godwin indicated the haul would probably be
completed by the end of the month.
• The mine fan has been shut down since December 2014.
• Vessels' methane- burning / power generating infrastructure was in operation at the upper end
of the Elk Creek facilities. Structures have been placed at the former Sanborn Creek portals
to capture gas from the workings of that mien.
HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05
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; Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13;
Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Drainage — Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments
4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18:
• Ground conditions were dry, overall, and there was no snow on the ground within the surface
facilities. Surprisingly, very little snow was present even on the north- facing slopes located
across the river from the Elk Creek Mine.
Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 5
Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 Page 2 of 7