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May 17, 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 /> R -Availability of Records R -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 complete inspection by Leigh Simmons of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety(Division). <br /> Ed Ogrodny of Mountain Coal Company(MCC) accompanied the inspection. The weather was clear and dry. The <br /> mine was active. <br /> AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS—Rule 5.02.4(1): <br /> Records were available in the mine office, details are given at the end of this report. <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 /> Work was ongoing to clean the ditch on the RPEE road, and to improve the drainage on the hairpin turns. <br /> The water level in the SG1 pond had dropped noticeably since the last inspection. The RPE and MBSE ponds were <br /> both in good shape. <br /> GENERAL MINE PLAN COMPLIANCE: <br /> Longwall mining of the SS4 panel had recently begun. <br /> Development of the LWE15 headgate and LWE12 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 /> It continued to be the case that all the mined coal was being processed through the wash plant.As a result <br /> more processing waste and more coal fines were being produced than is usual. Fines accumulate at Stack Tube 5 <br /> on the washed coal stockpile pad,but given the increased volume a temporary stockpile had been placed on the <br /> surface of the LRP,behind the wash plant.No more material had been added to the LRP pile, as specified in the <br /> Division's last inspection report. Since then excess fines had been transported to the Run-of-Mine coal stockpile <br /> pad,behind Stack Tube 3. 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 /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 7 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br /> Page 2 of 14 <br />