2016-03-03_INSPECTION - C1981018

Home Browse Search

February 25, 2016 C-1981-018/Deserado Mine CCW embankments showed no signs of instability. There was no discharge from either of the ponds. All of the cells of the B-Seam Dewatering System were holding water. The first three cells of the system were not frozen,the remaining cells were frozen over. Pumping was not occurring at the time of the inspection. Last Chance Pond was not discharging and had plenty of freeboard left. The embankments were mostly snow covered and had no indications of instability. The Refuse Area Ponds RP-1 (Photo 1) and RP-2/3 (Photo 2)were inspected. Pond RP-1 was almost completely covered with snow and was only holding a minimal amount of water. Most likely from the snow that was deposited and melted inside the pond. The pond did not have enough water impounded to discharge. The embankments showed no signs of instability. Pond RP-2/3 was impounding water at the time of the inspection. Runoff created from recent warm weather has melted some of the snow on the Eastern section of Refuse Pile 2/3/4. The runoff from this section of the pile is captured in the RP-2/3 Pond. The pond was mostly frozen over and was not discharging. The south facing portions of the embankment had the snow melted off of them,the north facing slopes of the embankment were still covered in snow. There were no indications of instability. The Raw Water Lagoon was frozen during the inspection. The embankments were mostly covered in snow. There were no indications of instability. PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES—Rule 4.10 and 4.11 Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: The winter stockpile was being placed on Refuse Pile RP-2/3/4 (Photo 3). The pile was partially snow covered at the time of the inspection. There were no indications of instability. ROADS—Rule 4.03 Construction 4.03.1(3)/4.03.2(3) Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4) Surfacing and Maintenance4.03.1(5) and(6)/4.03.2(5) and(6) Reclamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): County Road 65 was in good condition. There were no impacts related to subsidence. The Haul Road was damp in some places but no rutting had occurred. Access to several of the SAES inspected still had some snow on the roads and/or mud. These roads were in fairly good condition with small ruts occurring in the soft, muddy areas. See the Support Facilities section for a detailed list of the SAES inspected. RECLAMATION SUCCESS -Rule 4.15,Rule 3: The reclaimed Refuse Pile,RP-1,was covered in snow during the inspection. There was about 2 to 3 inches of snow cover on average. There were no issues noted with RP-1. There were only a few animal tracks spotted on the pile,during the fall the rabbit population seemed to have declined. LWB9-3 was reclaimed in 2008. The vegetation from the previous growing season had prevented erosion at the site. The diversity of plant species will be easier to determine during the spring. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 6 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 Page 3 of 8