2015-09-01_INSPECTION - C1981012

• Permit No: C1981012
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 9/1/2015
• Doc Name: Inspection Report
• From: DRMS
• To: New Elk Coal Company, LLC
• Inspection Date: 8/20/2015
• Email Name: LDS
• Email Name: RDZ
• Email Name: JRS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

August 20, 2015 C-1981-012/New Elk Mine LDS
Inspection Topic Summary
NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA Not Applicable
Y - Air Resource Protection
N - Availability of Records
Y - Backfill & Grading
R - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste
NA - Explosives
Y - Fish & Wildlife
R - Hydrologic Balance
R - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan
N - Other
R - Processing Waste
Y - Roads
N - Reclamation Success
R - Revegetation
NA - Subsidence
Y - Slides and Other Damage
Y - Support Facilities On-site
Y - Signs and Markers
N - Support Facilities Not On-site
Y - Special Categories Of Mining
Y - Topsoil
COMMENTS
This was a partial inspection by Leigh Simmons of the Colorado Division for Reclamation, Mining and
Safety, (Division). The inspection was accompanied by Vince Massarotti of New Elk Coal Company, (NECC).
The weather was fine and dry during the inspection, although the summer had continued to be quite wet prior to
the inspection.
Permit Renewal 6 and Minor Revision 123 are in progress, more details are given under the heading
GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE.
The status of the New Elk Mine is Active, but there is no immediate prospect of the mine returning to
production. The Cline Mining bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing; although there appears to be little of substance
left to be done, the procedure is at the discretion of the Canadian Supreme Court. Negotiations with Colorado
Parks and Wildlife concerning public access across the railroad easement east of the mine permit boundary are
ongoing.
Recent activity had been focussed on moving material from the two temporary development waste piles to
the RDA, as well as regular maintenance work. One further lay-off had occured since the last inspection, reducing
the mine -rescue personnel to the minimum of 6.
EXCESS SPOIL and DEVELOPMENT WASTE — Rule 4.09
Placement; Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization:
The material from both temporary development waste piles had been transported to the RDA. Although
the third haul truck had not been used the job had still been completed ahead of schedule. Ron Tokar was
continuing to work the material on the RDA.
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:
No pressing issues were noted with any ponds, ditches or culverts. Some rocks had fallen into upland
Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2
Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0
Page 2 of 9