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June 19, 2018 C-1981-012/New Elk Mine JHB <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 10 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br /> <br /> Page 2 of 5 <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 />Y - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Explosives <br />Y - Fish & Wildlife <br />R - Hydrologic Balance <br />R - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Other <br />N - Processing Waste <br /> <br />R - Roads <br />R - Reclamation Success <br />R - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - Slides and Other Damage <br />R - Support Facilities On-site <br />Y - 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 conducted by Janet binns of CDRMS. Nick Mason of New Elk Coal Company <br />accompanied the inspection. The weather was dry and warm, clouding up as the day progressed. The operation is <br />inactive, but the crew continues to conduct maintainace operations through out the mine site. <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 />Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br /> The operator reported that they had just completed cleaning sediment out of pond 8. Pond 8 was dry. <br />NECC had pumped and residual water from pond 8 to Pond 6 in order to dry Pond 8 out in order to remove the <br />sediment. Sediment from Pond 8 was taken to the clean coal storage area, or to the west side of the Development <br />Waste Pile No. 2 to dry prior to hauling the sediment pond material to the RDA. Nick indicated that NECC will <br />be surveying the cleaned out pond. Sediment was excavated until the bottom of the pond was reached. <br /> <br />Pond 6 was holding a fairly full pool of water. This was not discharging or being pumped to pond 7. NECC has <br />pumps in the ponds to be able to manage the water levels between pond 6 and pond 7. Pond 7 was holding a pool <br />of water, but the water level was approx. 5-6 feet below the discharge elevation. None of the ponds at New Elk <br />were discharging. <br /> <br />Pond 4 had a thick cover of willows in the bottom. No standing water was visible in Pond 4. <br /> <br />The water level in the Purgatoire River through the mine permit area was very low due to a very dry water year. <br /> <br />GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br /> The mine was in good condition, and the operator appears to be keeping up on maintenance items. <br /> <br />ROADS – Rule 4.03 <br />Construction 4.03.1(3)/4.03.2(3), Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4), Surfacing and Maintenance4.03.1(5) and