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June 26, 2023 C-1981-022/Elk Creek Mine LDS <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 />N - Backfill & Grading <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N - Explosives <br />N - Fish & Wildlife <br />R - Hydrologic Balance <br />N - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />R - Other <br />N - Processing Waste <br /> <br />N - Roads <br />N - Reclamation Success <br />R - Revegetation <br />N - Subsidence <br />N - 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 (Division), <br />accompanied throughout by Doug Smith of Oxbow Mining (Oxbow). The weather was clear and dry. The status of <br />the Elk Creek Mine is “active” however no coal is being mined and the only activity since the last inspection was <br />site maintenance. <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 /> The stream flows in the area of the Elk Creek mine had moderated considerably since the last inspection. <br />Although the water level in Elk Creek was much lower than in May, it was too high for any repairs to the stream <br />channel to have been attempted yet. Oxbow staff were planning to meet with a local contractor to discuss the <br />stream channel repair project later in the week. <br /> <br />OTHER (SPECIFY): <br /> The railroad company had moved a considerable amount of material into the railroad right of way, and had <br />graded it in such a way that it appeared to be permanent. The company continued to use the flat area adjacent to <br />the mine entrance to store equipment and materials for ongoing track maintenance. <br /> <br />REVEGETATION – Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br /> The topsoil stockpile area at the upper Elk Creek facilities area had been sprayed for Whitetop (Hoary <br />cress, Lepidium draba); according to Mr. Smith the prevalence of the weed in this area was noticeably less than in <br />previous years. <br /> <br />SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: <br /> At the time of the inspection one of the generators and the flare were running at the Elk Creek methane <br />facility.