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November 2, 2016 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine LDS <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 4 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br /> <br /> Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection <br />N - Availability of Records <br />N - Backfill & Grading <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Explosives <br />N - Fish & Wildlife <br />R - Hydrologic Balance <br />R - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Other <br />R - Processing Waste <br /> <br />Y - Roads <br />N - Reclamation Success <br />N - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Support Facilities On-site <br />N - Signs and Markers <br />N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />N - Topsoil <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS <br /> <br />This was a partial inspection by Leigh Simmons of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(Division). Mike Peacock of Mountain Coal Company (MCC) accompanied the inspection. The weather was <br />clear and dry, but the site had received moderate rain the previous evening. The mine was active. <br /> <br />HYDROLOGIC BALANCE - Rule 4.05 <br />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; <br />Diversions 4.05.4; Effluent Limits 4.05.2; Ground Water Monitoring 4.05.13; Surface Water Monitoring 4.05.13; <br />Drainage – Acid and Toxic Materials 4.05.8; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br /> The focus of this inspection was on surface water control structures on and around the RPEE. Map 54C – <br />Sediment and Drainage Control Facilities Refuse Pile Expansion East, is currently under revision, however <br />drawing C-12 from Exhibit 82 shows the overall drainage plan for the RPEE and provided a basis for comparison <br />of the existing structures with the approved design. <br />The upland diversion ditch on the east side of the pile was accessed by the steep rip-rap channel adjacent <br />to the eastern edge of the pile. The rip-rap channel was stable, and the ditch itself was broad and clear of rocks. <br />The grade appeared to be uniform and sufficient to allow positive drainage to the north. No low spots were evident <br />in the ditch, affording no opportunity for water to pond. Because of the previous night’s rain it was not practical to <br />hike the diversion on the western side of the pile, however the grade was clearly positive and there was no <br />evidence of any recent damage (repaired slides could be seen). <br />On the western edge of the pile, at the point where the haul road meets the active surface, the large HDPE <br />culvert had been removed, leaving a shallow “ditch” across the road, as has been noted in recent inspection <br />reports. MCC is in the process of preparing a minor revision application to change the culvert to a swale (with no <br />change to the drainage design) and expect to use a product called ArmorFlex, supplied by Contech Engineered <br />Solutions to line the swale. The work to complete the project is not expected to be undertaken until the summer of <br />2017. The rip-rap channel below this point, down the western side of the revegetated refuse pile, appeared to be in <br />good condition. <br />The drainage ditches and culverts down-stream from the RPEE surface and the upland diversion ditches <br />were in good condition. The partially obstructed clean water culvert identified in the October inspection report had <br />been cleaned out and protected at the inlet by a straw bale. <br /> <br />