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March 21, 2023 C-1980-007/West Elk Mine LDS <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 N -Roads <br /> N -Availability of Records N -Reclamation Success <br /> N -Backfill &Grading R -Revegetation <br /> N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence <br /> N -Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage <br /> N -Fish &Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site <br /> R -Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers <br /> R -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan N - Support Facilities Not On-site <br /> N - Other N - Special Categories Of Mining <br /> R -Processing Waste N -Topsoil <br /> COMMENTS <br /> This was a partial inspection by Leigh Simmons of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division). <br /> Nicki Poulos of Mountain Coal Company (MCC) accompanied the inspection. The weather was cloudy with wet <br /> snow on the ground and more in the forecast. The mine was active. <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 /> Recent wet weather combined with the large amount of material being processed through the wash plant <br /> meant that great attention was being paid to the surface water and sediment control system. The water in the <br /> sediment ponds had been pumped down to ensure that capacity would be sufficient to hold the run-off following <br /> the forecast storm. Maintenance of ditches and culverts was ongoing. <br /> GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br /> Longwall mining was in progress in panel SS3, at around cross cut 8 on the headgate. <br /> Development mining of the SS4 panel was complete. <br /> Development of the LWE 15 headgate and LWE 12 tailgate was in progress. <br /> The in-mine drilling by REI of the coal in panel LWE 17 showed that the burn was more extensive than <br /> had been anticipated. It's possible that MCC will submit a revision to modify the mine plan as a result. <br /> The quality of coal in panel SS3 was such that all the mined coal was being processed through the wash <br /> plant. As a result more processing waste and more coal fines were being produced than is usual. Fines accumulate <br /> at Stack Tube 5 on the washed coal stockpile pad,but given the increased volume they were being transported by <br /> haul truck to a temporary stockpile on the surface of the LRP,behind the wash plant. It was anticipated that they <br /> would be blended back into the mix to be sold at a later date when coal quality had improved. <br /> PROCESSING WASTE/COAL MINE WASTE PILES—Rule 4.10 and 4.11 <br /> Drainage Control; Surface Stabilization; Placement: <br /> Weather conditions meant that the RPEE had been inaccessible for several weeks. Refuse was being <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 6 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 <br /> Page 2 of 12 <br />