Laserfiche WebLink
April 18, 2017 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine LDS <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 7 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 <br /> <br /> Page 2 of 10 <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 />N - Roads <br />N - Reclamation Success <br />N - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />R - Slides and Other Damage <br />R - 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). Larry Gillenwater of Mountain Coal Company (MCC) accompanied the inspection. An aerial <br />inspection was also performed, with pictures taken on April 11, 2017, by Harry Ranney of the Division. The <br />weather was clear and dry. 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 /> All ponds were in good condition. All were holding water, but none were close to their discharge level. <br />On the southern side of the southern cell of Pond MB-5E the surface still needs to be re-graded following the <br />burial of the water line. Mr. Gillenwater anticipated using gravel on the surface to provide access for machinery <br />when the pond needs to be cleaned. <br />The water recycling pipeline at the RPE pond (MR-409) has not yet been buried, but it is expected that it <br />will be soon. The spring on the outslope of the RPE, above the RPE ponds, that was noted in a recent inspection <br />report has apparently been in existence since the slope was constructed and a French drain added several years ago <br />to facilitate flows from the area. There is no evidence that it has destabilized the slope so no action is required <br />beyond continued monitoring. <br /> <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br />The following permitting actions are in progress: <br /> MR-421 was approved and issued on April 20, 2017 <br /> TR-140 was found complete on October 17, 2016. The decision due date has been extended to <br />May 5, 2017.