2017-08-08_INSPECTION - C1981019 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 8/8/2017
• Doc Name: OSM Inspection Report
• From: OSM
• To: DRMS
• Inspection Date: 7/25/2017
• Email Name: ZTT
• Email Name: JRS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Denver Field Branch
Mine Site Evaluation Narrative
Company:
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
Mine:
Colowyo Coal Mine
Permit No:
C-1981-019
Date of Inspection:
July 25-26, 2017
Inspection Type:
Oversight partial
Weather:
Overcast and cool with intermittent precipitation; soft ground
conditions
Operator Representative(s): Angela Aalbers, Kurtis Blunt, and Tony Tennyson
State Official(s): Zach Trujillo (Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety) and
Phillip Courtney (Colorado State Land Board)
OSMRE Official(s): Tom Medlin (#562)
Background
This was an oversight partial inspection at the Colowyo Coal Mine in Meeker, Colorado.
Colowyo currently posts a self -bond (SB -010) in the amount of $80,517,829. The post -mining
land use applicable to the parcels inspected is rangeland. Prior to and following this oversight
partial inspection, I performed an administrative review of pertinent documentation including the
most recent DRMS inspection report (which indicates no enforcement actions taken or pending),
the SL -11 and SL -12 bond release applications, and pertinent maps. This inspection was
conducted in conjunction with Phase I (SL -11) and Phase II/Phase III (SL -12) bond release
inspections.
Mine and Permit Identification Signs (Rule 4.02.2)
The mine identification sign at the entrance from Colorado State Highway 13 was intact and
contained all information as required.
Backfilling and Grading (Rule 4.14)
Heavy equipment operators were conducting backfill and grading work in the 2017 reclamation
block. The 2016 reclamation blocks in the East and West Pits inspected for Phase I bond release
demonstrated surface stability without erosion or hydrologic cutting, grading to approximate
original contour which blended with the surrounding topography, and no remaining highwall. No
issues were noted. See Figure 1.
Revegetation (Rule 4.15.1)
The parcels evaluated for Phase II/III bond release demonstrated vegetative permanency, having
been reclaimed since the early to late 1990s; effectiveness, with no erosion or major noxious
species infestations noted; and diversity, with several perennial species from the approved seed
mix observed, including Antelope bitterbrush, Basin wildrye, Western wheatgrass, big
sagebrush, Mountain brome, and snowberry. This is discussed in greater detail in the related
Phase II and III bond release inspection report. See Figure 2.
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