Laserfiche WebLink
August 23, 2017 C-1981-022/Elk Creek Mine LDS <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 1 <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 />N - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Other <br />N - Processing Waste <br /> <br />N - Roads <br />R - Reclamation Success <br />R - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - 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 (Division). <br />Doug Smith of Oxbow Mining accompanied the inspection. The weather was hot and dry. The status of the Elk <br />Creek Mine, as far as the Division is concerned, is “Active” however no coal is being mined and all activity at the <br />site is focused on the early stages of reclamation. <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 /> Pond B was holding water, as a result of backwash from the water treatment plant, but all other ponds <br />around the facilities area were dry. <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> Reclamation work was progressing on schedule, as described in the July inspection report. <br /> <br />REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> Weeds had been effectively treated around the site, and no serious infestations were evident. Some patches <br />of thistle on the lower hairpins on the Coal Bank road should be treated. <br /> <br />SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: <br /> The four pads, and associated roads, on Coal Bank were inspected, where all the wells had recently been <br />plugged. Himes drilling had done the work, which appeared to have been completed satisfactorily. <br />The well casing had not yet been removed from CBM 8/11/13, but some sections had been cut to make <br />removal easier. <br />At CBM 1/2/3/6/7 and CBM 4/5 it may be necessary to cut the well casing at, or below, the ground <br />surface in order to allow for sufficient depth of cover when the pad is backfilled.