Laserfiche WebLink
June 3, 2019 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine LDS <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 9 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br /> Page 2 of 24 <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 />N - 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 />R - 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). The focus of the inspection was on the Mine Ventilation Borehole (mvb) pads and access roads that <br />had been reclaimed and were the subject of two surety release applications: SL-11 (phase III) and SL-12 (phase I). <br />The inspection began with a meeting at the mine office where the following were present: Leigh Simmons <br />(Division): Tom Medlin (OSMRE); Kathy Welt, Bob Munz and Ed Ogrodny (Mountain Coal Company, MCC). <br />No representatives of the BLM or USFS were present, although they had been notified. The permitting and bond <br />release process was discussed in general terms, and then a plan for the inspection was agreed. <br />The full list of sites inspected for the bond release applications is given in tables 1 and 2, together with <br />comments where appropriate. <br />Notes from the inspection that are not directly related to either bond release application are given under <br />the normal headings. <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> The sites inspected as part of the SL-11 inspection were generally well-vegetated, with very few weeds. <br />Many species from the seed mix were observed together with occasional volunteers. No erosion of these sites was <br />observed and the reclamation appeared very successful. <br />The sites inspected as part of the SL-12 inspection had generally been regraded to blend into the <br />surrounding topography. Plugged and abandoned holes had generally been marked with survey pins. Some errors <br />were noted on the map that accompanied the SL-12 application – these were discussed on site and will be <br />specified in separate adequacy correspondence. <br /> <br />REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> Many of the disturbed areas inspected as part of the SL-12 inspection showed some dispersed weeds <br />(particularly Canada thistle) and should be treated accordingly. Although there were remnants of electric fences on <br />many of the pads, none of the fences were in working order at the time of the inspection.