Laserfiche WebLink
West Elk's approved reclamation plan was prepared in accordance with Rule 2.05.4. The approved <br />reclamation plan and backfilling and grading plan for the West Elk Mine are found in Volume 1 <br />of the permit application package (PAP). Exhibit 80, which is also found in the West Elk PAP, <br />provides specific detail regarding the methane drainage wells (MDW's) and associated roads. <br />III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />The bond release inspection was conducted on 9 and 10 July 2014. All of the requested areas <br />were small, linear areas and included drill pads for MDW's and exploration sites and their <br />associated access roads and a small (1.90 acre) borrow area. The MDW wells, exploration holes, <br />pads and roads were located above the B -Seam in longwall panels 18, 19, 20 and 22, and in the <br />E -Seam above longwall panel 2. The Monument Dam borrow area was located directly adjacent <br />to the Minnesota Reservoir. Based on the application, there were 22 individual disturbed sites <br />and their associated roads. All of the sites requested for Partial Phase I Bond Release are listed <br />on Table II, which is attached at the end of this Findings Document and contained in the SL -07 <br />application package. <br />The reclamation plan for MDW and exploration pads generally has the following three steps: <br />1. Upon completion of each phase of activity at a given site, all debris, trash, and drilling related <br />equipment, or de -gas housing will be removed from the site. <br />2. When the mud pit or pits are sufficiently dry, they will be filled with stored soil material and <br />compacted to minimize any settling. <br />3. A backhoe and a bulldozer will redistribute material on and around the drill pad to achieve as <br />closely as practicable the original contour of the site. The area will then be ripped or scarified. <br />The reclamation plan calls for MDW and exploration access roads to be restored as closely as <br />possible to the approximate original contour, with an uneven final surface. <br />Approximate original contour for the drill pads and roads was verified during the inspection by <br />visual observation because of the small sizes of the disturbed areas (most drill pads are less than <br />one acre) and because all of the material that was regraded to achieve approximate original <br />contour was stockpiled on each site (or used in the pad or road cut and fill). <br />Additionally, wellbore locations on the ground surface were inspected for compliance with Rule <br />4.07.3, which requires that well bore closures be designed to prevent access to the mine workings <br />and to keep acid other toxic drainage from entering ground or surface waters. Rule 4.07.3 also <br />requires all holes to be marked. MCC also provided well abandonment reports in the SL -07 <br />application for all of the plugged and sealed boreholes in accordance with Rule 4.07.3(3). <br />No debris, trash, drilling related equipment or de -gas housings were found in the bond release <br />areas. No mud pits were found. Borehole location markers were found on all of the locations. <br />West Elk Mine 5 13 April 2015 <br />Partial Phase I Bond Release SL -07 Findings <br />