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August 28, 2018 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 11 <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 />Y - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N - Other <br />N - Processing Waste <br /> <br />N - Roads <br />R - Reclamation Success <br />N - 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 <br />(Division). Doug Smith of Oxbow Mining accompanied the inspection. The weather was clear and dry. The status <br />of the Elk Creek Mine, as far as the Division is concerned, is “Active” however no coal is being mined and all <br />activity at the site is focused on the early stages of reclamation. <br /> <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 /> Ponds A and B were inspected, with no issues noted. Pond B continues to receive backwash from the <br />water treatment plant, estimated at 3000 gallons every 2-3 days. <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> At the time of the inspection work was in progress to reclaim West Valley II fill. <br />West Valley fill had already been reclaimed, with all cover material from the topsoil stockpile. The depth of cover <br />was not verified. <br />Much of the reclamation of the lower section of Elk Creek had been done, however some final grading <br />and topsoil spreading remained to be completed, and the area still needs to be seeded. Some small changes from <br />the approved reclamation plan were made, based on conditions in the field; these will need to be addressed <br />through a technical revision. <br />During the reclamation project Oxbow were surprised to find that the large Elk Creek culvert contained a <br />concrete section, approximately 12-15” thick, which had to be cut with a special saw <br /> <br />SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: <br /> At the time of the inspection the power supply to the water treatment plant was being switched over, so <br />that meters can be installed and 3 smaller power poles and a small transformer can be removed.