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MCM's predecessor, BTU Empire Company, LLC (BTUEC), completed final reclamation grading, drainage
<br />reestablishment, soil material replacement, and revegetation seeding of approximately 17.1 acres, encompassing the
<br />No. 9 Portal Area and adjacent Refuse Disposal Area, in May 2009. Reclaimed areas were reseeded with the
<br />approved seed mixture that fall, and areas are inspected several times each year for any erosion or sediment
<br />transport concerns, invasive noxious weeds, and vegetative reestablishment. An old drill -pad near the 9-P2 Pond
<br />which had been reseeded was also inspected and released in 2014.
<br />MCM contracted and completed field repair and stabilization of the eroded stream bank in the abutment areas of the
<br />railroad bridge over the Williams Fork River during 2011. Minor repair of erosion and rodent holes was also
<br />completed for the Pond 5D embankments and the on the Access Road to the Mine No. 5A/6 Portals and water -bars
<br />were installed on the old highway between the 7 -North Angle Well and the Mine 5/6 Portals. It was noted that the
<br />siphon -tube under the Williams Fork River for the Worthington Ditch was exposed and damaged during the
<br />previous year's high spring flows. MCM reviewed options for transmission of flows in this Ditch, however, related
<br />repair and maintenance work has been deferred. During 2011-2012, MCM also completed testing and removal of
<br />petroleum products, emulsion fluids, and other chemicals and chemicals wastes from the Shop/Warehouse, Multi -
<br />Services Building, and exterior storage tanks, and completed EPA compliant closure of the tanks, all using a
<br />licensed waste contractor. In 2014, residual sludge was removed from the gasoline storage tank near the
<br />Warehouse and transported off-site for disposal by a licensed contractor.
<br />In March 2014, damage to the Multi -Services Building was observed during routine snow -plowing operations. It
<br />appeared that someone had accessed the site and stolen copper wiring from the building. The trespass and theft
<br />were reported to local law enforcement, who opened an initial investigation. Subsequently, in May 2014,
<br />trespassers were encountered on-site during water monitoring activities, local law enforcement authorities were
<br />contacted immediately, and the trespassers were apprehended and arrested. The subsequent investigation
<br />discovered recent and extensive damage and theft to the Shop/Warehouse Building, the Multi -Services Building,
<br />and the upper substation. The trespassers had stripped copper piping and wiring from the buildings and had opened
<br />two transformers, allowed the oil to drain -out, and had stripped the transformer windings. The related damage and
<br />spills required repairs to the Shop/Warehouse doors in order to secure the building, and removal of the transformer
<br />cases and debris and clean-up, testing/profiling, and disposal of the petroleum contaminated soil. MCM has
<br />subsequently taken a number of actions to better secure the site, including; placing cement barricades on the west
<br />entrance road; removal of several locks from the main gate, and implementation of a limited access program
<br />(essentially access only with permission); a call-in/call-out requirement for individuals accessing the site; daily
<br />security patrols; and security cameras.
<br />During 2013 MCM cooperated with the CDRMS-AML Group on a drilling program to delineate and characterize
<br />the existing pre -law Wise Hill Mine Fire. MCM provided maps and historical background information on the
<br />geology, previous mining activity, and previous fire mitigation efforts, and coordinated training, access, and
<br />provision of water for the drilling activities with Tara Taffy of the AML Group. In order to provide relevant
<br />background information, and clearly establish the historic pre -law context for the ongoing Wise Hill AML
<br />activities, MCM completed and submitted a Minor Revision (MR13-50) to the approved permit which incorporates
<br />this relevant information in the current PAP. During June 2014, the CDRMS-AML Group coordinated some
<br />additional exploratory drilling and then made a joint site visit in the fall with personnel from the OSMRE. During
<br />2015, a contractor for the AML program completed an extensive drilling program which involved upgrades to the
<br />existing access road, construction of drill -pad and staging areas, drilling of injection and monitoring holes, and
<br />injection of foam and grout materials to isolate and extinguish the burn area(s). In late 2016, and continuing
<br />through 2017, the AML contractor initiated the second phase of the work to isolate and contain the burn zone in an
<br />upper coal seam to allow it to burn -out and stop any further advance of the burn -front. This work involves
<br />excavation ahead of the burn front into the upper coal seam, mixing of the coal material with non-combustible
<br />overburden materials, and replacement of this mixed material into the excavation to act as a non-combustible
<br />barrier. On completion of this work the AML Group will be responsible for regrading and reseeding the excavated
<br />areas.
<br />As a result of a due diligence effort associated with a potential asset transfer, the decision was made to evaluate and
<br />clean-up a historic dump site that is within the Permit Area, but is not associated with the current permitted mining
<br />and related activities. The MCM staff, in cooperation with NorWest Corporation consultants, completed site
<br />reconnaissance surveys and materials sampling and analyses for the dump area in late summer 2015, and then
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