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June 12, 2019 C-1981-008/New Horizon Mine JHB <br /> <br /> <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 8 <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 />Y - Backfill & Grading <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />NA - Explosives <br />R - Fish & Wildlife <br />R - Hydrologic Balance <br />Y - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />NA - Other <br />NA - Processing Waste <br /> <br />Y - Roads <br />R - Reclamation Success <br />R - Revegetation <br />NA - Subsidence <br />N - Slides and Other Damage <br />N - Support Facilities On-site <br />Y - Signs and Markers <br />N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />N - Special Categories Of Mining <br />Y - Topsoil <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS <br /> <br />This was a partial inspection conducted by Janet Binns of CDRMS. Mr. Frank Ferris of Elk Ridge Mining and <br />Reclamation, LLC accompanied the inspection. The mine is a surface mine in various stages of reclamation and <br />bond release. ERMR is no longer extracting coal at the New Horizon Mine. The weather was dry and clear with <br />high cirrus clouds. <br />FISH and WILDLIFE – Rule 4.18: <br /> Mule deer were encountered in the swale southwest of the warehouse area. <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; Impoundments 4.05.6, 4.05.9; Stream Buffer Zones 4.05.18: <br />Pond 9 was observed and was dry. The slope above (south) of Pond 9 appeared stable and was not eroding. <br />Pond 18 was dry. <br />Pond 13 was discharging 0.5 on the staff gauge at the flume. The effluent water was clear with a slight sulphur <br />smell. ERMR continues to pipe CC ditch water and spoil spring water to this pond and aerate the inflow as it <br />enters the pond. <br />Pond 16 was dry. <br /> <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br /> The condition of the three reference areas were observed. The irrigated pasture reference area is located <br />south of the warehouse/shop area in the SE 1/4 of T46N, R15W, Sec 6. This Irrigated Pasture (IP) reference area <br />is flood irrigated, and is planted primarily to Bromegrass, Orchardgrass, clover and alfalfa. The piping was <br />located at the top of the slope but was disconnected and not flowing at the time of the inspection. Frank noted that <br />the field was drying out in anticipation of cutting early next week (week of June 17th). Walking across the field, <br />some areas were still fairly damp. The pasture crop is well established and quite tall, ~2/1/2 to 3 feet high. There <br />were no bare or patchy areas and noxious weeds have been controlled and not observed during the inspection of <br />this area.