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and weather conditions allow. A very small amount of end dumped gob was present in <br />on the western edge of the top of the pile. <br />The westernmost and easternmost sections of gob pile #3 serve as drying areas for end <br />dumped material. The purpose of the gob drying area is to provide an area for <br />temporary storage of gob for drying purposes. End -dumped gob in the gob drying areas <br />is worked with dozers and track hoes to assist in the drying process. The Operator <br />removed gob from the eastern and western drying areas and placed it on top of gob pile <br />#3. <br />At gob pile #3 it is necessary to stockpile gob material during the winter months then <br />place and compact the stockpiled gob when weather allows. Stockpiling of gob can <br />commence November 15 and end April 15. Winter stockpiled material will be re - <br />handled and compacted by September 30. Beginning on October 1, the Operator <br />should be compacting all material concurrently, until conditions again require <br />stockpiling. The stockpiling dates listed above should be considered flexible and may <br />change slightly from year to year based on weather conditions. The gob material will be <br />stockpiled in rows generally running from northwest to southeast. The rows of gob will <br />be placed in a controlled manner and overlap will be minimized so there is space <br />between rows to allow for drainage to the southeast. There were two (2) rows of <br />stockpiled gob at gob pile #3 during the inspection. The stockpiled gob was from <br />recently placed gob from both the drying areas, and, stockpiling that was necessary due <br />to recent rains. <br />Gob pile #2 has one steep area. It is located in the central section of the pile. This area <br />is steep because the Operator was placing gob in the area and was tying the gob into <br />existing gob and natural ground. There is a steep slope on the west side of the first <br />bench on gob pile #1, constructed at 1.5H:1 V, but a variance request (TR -97) was <br />approved on June 22, 2015 and therefore no longer an issue that will be mentioned in <br />forthcoming gob pile inspection reports. <br />The available volume of coverfill material is sufficient to meet the requirements of Rule <br />4.10.4(5). No coverfill was used for blending or other uses during the quarter. <br />A failure of the gob pile no. 1 would probably not be a hazard to human life. The pile is <br />located above a large flat bench. The bench is approximately 80 to 150 -feet wide <br />directly below the pile. Additionally, the gob pile sediment pond is located below the pile. <br />If the coal mine waste bank failed, the material would very likely be contained on the <br />bench below the pile and or within the gob pile sediment pond. <br />A failure of gob pile no. 2 would probably not be a hazard to human life. A residential <br />dwelling is located over 300 -feet below pile no. 2. The piles are located above Bowie <br />Road. A failure of the piles might damage Bowie Road and the Fire Mountain Canal but <br />would not likely impact the residential dwelling. <br />-2- <br />