Laserfiche WebLink
March 26, 2015 C- 1981 - 022 /Elk Creek Mine RAR <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y= Inspected N =Not Inspected R= Comments Noted V= Violation Issued NA Not Applicable <br />R - Air Resource Protection Y - Roads <br />N - Availability of Records N - Reclamation Success <br />N - Backfill & Grading N - Revegetation <br />NA - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste N - Subsidence <br />N - Explosives Y - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Fish & Wildlife R - Support Facilities On -site <br />R - Hydrologic Balance R - Signs and Markers <br />Y - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On -site <br />N - Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />R - Processing Waste N - Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />This partial inspection of Elk Creek mine was conducted on the afternoon of Thursday 26 March 2015. It <br />was a clear, dry and mild (55 -F) afternoon. Ground conditions were slightly damp overall from light rain <br />and snow mix the day before and there was no snow on the ground within the surface facilities. Very <br />little snow was present even on the north facing slopes located across the river from the Elk Creek Mine. <br />Robin Reilley accompanied by Jason Musick both of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(DRMS), conducted the inspection. We spoke with Mike Ludlow, the general manager about the current <br />situation at Elk Creek. Doug Smith the Chief Engineer accompanied us on the inspection and described <br />the current "on the ground" conditions at the site. <br />According to Mike Ludlow, due to the current low market prices for coal and the recent fire at the mine, <br />Oxbow Mining LLC., made the decision to halt operations. Oxbow is generating electricity from their <br />innovative methane capture systems and outside of the contracts with Aspen and Holy Cross is having <br />difficulty marketing this electricity, further affecting their bottom line. The mine is not producing any <br />coal at this time and currently has ten employees working. <br />The focus of the inspection was hydrologic and consisted of the culverts, ditches and Ponds Al, B and D. <br />SIGNS AND MARKERS Rule 4.02 <br />• Mine Identification signs and surface disturbance markers identified during this inspection were installed as <br />required throughout the surface facility areas visited on this inspection. <br />• Topsoil stockpiles observed were marked with identifying signs. <br />SUPPORT FACILITIES Rule 4.04 <br />• The last of the coal stockpile had been shipped in February 2015. <br />• The mine fan has been shut down since December 2014 <br />• Much of the equipment and machinery, including long wallbelt line was organized around various storage <br />areas of the facility awaiting auction. The auction is scheduled for July 2015. Doug Smith noted that all <br />material on waste pile, (beltline, tubing etc.) has been sold to West Elk mine and will be removed. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 6 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />