Laserfiche WebLink
BOWIE RESOURCES, LLC <br />Bowie No. 2 Mine <br />Coal Mine Waste Bank Nos. 1, 2, & 3 Inspections 4th Quarter 2016 <br />On October 17, a visual inspection of the Bowie No. 2 Mine coal mine waste banks was <br />performed by the undersigned in accordance with Rule 4.10.2. This inspection includes <br />Gob Pile Nos. 1, 2, and 3. Pile No. 1 is considered inactive. Pile no. 2 is located north <br />of Bowie Road. Pile no. 3 is located south of Bowie Road. <br />I, Tamme Bishop, P.E., have a wide variety of experience in the design and <br />construction of earth fill embankments. Nothing was observed during the inspection <br />that would indicate the piles have a potential for failure. A small area of seepage was <br />seen at the toe of gob pile #2, west of the haul road. On the far east side of gob pile <br />#2, there were windrows of stacked gob. All organic material and topsoil has been <br />removed ahead of the waste bank founding. The diversion ditches at gob pile #2 were <br />inspected, both lower and upper, and found to be in good condition. The upper and <br />lower diversion ditches at gob pile #3 were inspected, and were in good condition, <br />however they should be cleaned out during 2017. The underdrain was flowing, and the <br />water was clear. A new seep has been discovered at gob pile #3, north of the east <br />drying area. At this time, the seep will not impact the long-term stability of the gob pile. <br />However, before final placement and compaction of gob in the footprint of the east <br />drying area, an underdrain will be installed. Approval of the underdrain design was <br />incorporated into the permit under Technical Revision No. 105. <br />At gob pile #2, the first bench east of the haul road is covered with soil. The second <br />bench east of the haul road is mostly covered with a subsoil pile. Most of the third and <br />forth benches east of the road are covered with soil. Soil has been placed on most of <br />the second and third benches west of the haul road. The fourth bench west of the haul <br />road received 3.5' of coverfill during the quarter. <br />Most of the coal mine waste was generated from the preparation plant. Approximately <br />20,353 tons of gob were hauled during the quarter with 100% of the gob going to gob <br />pile #2. Coal mine waste is to be placed in the piles in approximately horizontal lifts no <br />more than 24 -inches thick. The coal mine waste is dried and then spread and <br />compacted by self propelled sheepsfoot compactors. Eleven compaction tests were <br />taken at gob pile #2 during the quarter. No compaction tests were performed at gob <br />pile #3 during the quarter. <br />The top of gob pile #2 serves as a drying area for end dumped gob. Gob is to be <br />stacked to a maximum height of 20 feet, with a slope angle up to 1.5h:1v. A 25 foot <br />buffer zone on the face of the gob pile will be maintained at all times. Gob will be <br />spread and compacted to the currently approved slope configuration as soon as gob <br />and weather conditions allow. <br />The westernmost and easternmost sections of gob pile #3 serve as drying areas for <br />-1- <br />