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April 26, 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 R -Roads <br /> N -Availability of Records N -Reclamation Success <br /> N -Backfill &Grading N -Revegetation <br /> N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste N - Subsidence <br /> N -Explosives R - 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 <br /> (Division). Ed Ogrodny of Mountain Coal Company (MCC) accompanied the inspection. The weather was clear <br /> and dry,however the weather had been wet in the days before the inspection. 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 /> As was the case in the last inspection, recent wet weather combined with the large amount of material <br /> being processed through the wash plant meant that great attention was being paid to the surface water and <br /> sediment control system. Maintenance of ditches and culverts was ongoing. Both the RPE ponds and the SG-1 <br /> pond were holding a significant amount of water,but retained sufficient capacity to avoid discharging. <br /> GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br /> Longwall mining of panel SS3 had been ended earlier than planned,with the chutes extended to around <br /> cross cut 7, due to poor mining conditions. A longwall move to the SS4 panel was in progress. <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 /> As was discussed in the last inspection report,the quality of coal in panel SS3 was such that all the mined <br /> coal was being processed through the wash plant. As a result more processing waste and more coal fines were <br /> being produced than is usual. Fines accumulate at Stack Tube 5 on the washed coal stockpile pad,but given the <br /> increased volume they were being transported by haul truck to a temporary stockpile on the surface of the LRP, <br /> behind the wash plant. It was anticipated that they would be blended back into the mix to be sold at a later date <br /> when coal quality had improved. <br /> The size of the temporary fines stockpile had grown considerably since the last inspection. Two <br /> excavators (operated by Wells Excavating and D&S Underground)were working in tandem on the pile in order to <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 7 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 <br /> Page 2 of 14 <br />