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May 24, 2018 C-1981-022/Elk Creek Mine LDS <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 7 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 5 <br /> <br /> Page 2 of 7 <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 />R - Processing Waste <br /> <br />N - Roads <br />R - Reclamation Success <br />R - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - 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 and Jason Musick of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br />Safety (Division). Doug Smith of Oxbow Mining accompanied the inspection. The weather was clear and dry. The <br />status of the Elk Creek Mine, as far as the Division is concerned, is “Active” however no coal is being mined and <br />all activity at the 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 /> Flow in the Elk Creek drainage had slowed little more than a trickle as a result of the hot, dry spring. <br /> <br />PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES – Rule 4.10 and 4.11 <br />Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: <br /> The West Valley Fill and the II West Valley Fill were both stable and well vegetated. Now new material <br />had been placed on either. <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> Work was in progress to reclaim the lower section of the Elk Creek facilities area. At the time of the <br />inspection contractors had been on site for around two weeks, and were in the process of excavating the Elk Creek <br />culvert from below the coal stockpile pad. The weather conditions had been favorable, and no unexpected <br />problems had been encountered. <br /> <br />REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> White top had been sprayed in the cemetery. <br />